A Turkish parliamentary committee tasked with addressing violence and discrimination against women has concluded its work and issued a report outlining wide-ranging recommendations, including legislative changes and expanded mental health services.
The report, made public on Saturday, contains dozens of proposals aimed at curbing domestic violence and femicide, which remain persistent problems in the country. It follows a series of high-profile cases in which women were killed by current or former partners, prompting lawmakers to launch the inquiry.
The committee recommended giving judges the discretion to refer divorcing couples to marriage or family counseling, or divorce therapy, depending on the circumstances of the case, including the presence of domestic or gender-based violence.
Among the key proposals was the enactment of a Mental Health Professions Law to ensure the availability of professional services for both victims and perpetrators of violence.
The report emphasized the need for institutions to regularly review and improve their policies, service models and strategies for combating gender-based violence and discrimination. It advocated for a “case management approach” to all incidents involving women and children, with each case handled by a supervised team of managers to ensure coordinated and consistent support.
It also called for better evidence collection and inter-agency coordination to inform policymaking, and urged the development of early warning systems using artificial intelligence and big data to identify potential risks.
In the area of media, the report recommended updated guidelines to prevent the normalization of violence. It urged digital content creators to adopt a “woman-friendly perspective” and called on news outlets to avoid sensationalist reporting. The committee also proposed revising the Radio and Television Supreme Council’s (RTÜK) broadcast standards for coverage during crises to prioritize women’s interests and prohibit the use of women’s images without consent.
To improve women’s participation in the workforce, the report advocated for policies supporting work-life balance, flexible and secure employment, and the equitable sharing of family responsibilities. It proposed extending paternity leave to encourage bonding with newborns and called for maternity and nursing leave to be “adequate and encouraging.”
The committee also recommended expanding flexible working arrangements that protect women’s financial and social rights, particularly during the early years of childcare, and called for extended paid leave in line with European Union standards.