International Feminist Solidarity
As we go through challenging times, international feminist solidarity plays an important role in advocating women’s rights globally. Two important developments stand out recently. The first development is the deteriorating rights and struggles of women in Islamic countries especially in Afghanistan and Iran. In Afghanistan, women are no longer allowed to take part in aspects of public life. With the strict implementation of Sharia Law, Afghan women’s legal, political, educational, social and cultural rights have been almost completely eliminated.
The second development is the opposition of several European countries to the Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence). Some countries claim that the convention undermines traditional family values and they resist its gender equality provisions, especially regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Numerous countries either have not ratified the Convention (such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, etc.) or withdrew (Turkiye) due to these above mentioned claims. It is essential at this point to be the voice of those who are not allowed to speak.
About the Speaker
Yaprak Eris (she/her) is a MA student in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies' Public Policy program. Yaprak's research interests are gender equality in organizations and effectiveness of inclusion policies/activities.