Call for MPs to approve domestic violence Bill
WOMEN from 23 non-governmental organisations have called on MPs to urgently approve a draft domestic violence Bill.
They gathered in front of Parliament and read out a statement demanding the Prevention of Domestic Violence
and Protection of Persons Subjected to Domestic Violence Bill be approved immediately.
The Cyprus Turkish University Women’s Association head Berna Yılmazoğlu Özdoğa read a statement on behalf of the 23 groups explaining that there is no specific law regarding domestic violence in the TRNC and that the punishments for perpetrators are insufficient.
“We wanted to address the MPs once again . . . and hope that they will listen to the voice of the society,” Ms Özdoğa said.
She also shared with the public a letter given to the Parliament Secretariat to be delivered to MPs.
In the letter, it was stated that the draft domestic violence legislation
should be urgently pushed through the necessary stages and that the necessary legal arrangements should be made in order for a “Women’s Unit” to work effectively with non-governmental organisations.
The letter emphasized that women expect their MPs to take measures for implementing laws that will ensure equal opportunities for individuals.
“Based on your responsibility to represent the people of our country, we
respectfully advise that we will be following up to ensure that you have listened to the voice of society and fulfilled our expectations,” the letter said.
The draft Bill was prepared by the Women’s Support for Life Association (Kayad) with the backing of 25 civil society groups and presented to Parliament by the Social Democracy Party (TDP) MPs. Kayad says its works to prevent all kinds of discrimination against women and to ensure gender justice.