[women-rights] Turkey: Sexual violence of women in detention must be eradicated

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
AI-index: EUR 44/010/2003     26/02/2003

(Istanbul) Women in custody in Turkey risk being subjected to sexual 
violence by members of the state security forces, Amnesty International 
warned today as it released the report Turkey: End sexual violence against 
women in custody!
( http://click.topica.com/maaaSEeaaWhrubb0imPb/ )

The report details how women from all social and cultural backgrounds are 
subjected to abuse, assault and rape in detention. Some sectors of women 
are particularly at risk, especially women of Kurdish origin from the 
south-east and women who hold political beliefs unacceptable to the 
authorities or military.

The report is based on research conducted throughout 2002, including visits 
to Turkey in June and September 2002. Since the report was concluded, a new 
government has taken power in Turkey.

"The findings of this report present a challenge to the government to make 
their statements of commitment to human rights a reality," Amnesty 
International said.

"The new government does not have to carry the baggage of the previous 
government, instead it should take concrete steps to overcome the problem 
of sexual violence against women."

In Turkey, it continues to be extremely difficult for women who have 
experienced sexual violence to speak out and obtain justice. Ostracism, 
discrimination by society and concepts of "honour" conspire to silence the 
survivors of sexual violence. When agents of the state are the 
perpetrators, they reinforcing a culture of violence and discrimination 
that places all women at risk.

Amnesty International is concerned that state agents may be resorting to 
torture in the form of rape and sexual assault in the knowledge that 
survivors are unlikely to want to report their experiences.

"The perpetrators have been effectively targeting both the survivor and her 
community, while also committing their crimes with impunity," Amnesty 
International said.

Reports received by Amnesty International indicate that women detained are 
frequently stripped naked by male officers during questioning in police 
custody or in prison. In this situation women are at high risk of exposure 
to violence and humiliation.

In Turkey, women face forced "virginity tests" as a form of punishment or 
humiliation. The consequences of "virginity testing" for many women 
examined, whose hymens have been reported to be absent, have included 
violence, humiliation, and on occasion, death. Merely the threat of a test 
can be sufficient to cause psychological consequences for the victim of 
sexual assault. To refuse can be perceived as an admission of "stained 
honour" and may put the survivor at increased risk of sexual assault.

Sometimes a woman is subjected to sexual violence in the presence of her 
husband or family members, apparently as a means of forcing her husband or 
family member to "confess", or in a cynical utilization of the concept of 
"honour", as a way of demeaning her family and her community.

In interviews with over 100 female prisoners in Diyarbakir, Mus, Mardin, 
Batman and Midyat, the Diyarbakir Bar Women's Commission established that 
nearly all of the women had been subjected to "virginity testing", and 
nearly all had experienced some form of sexual abuse, either verbal or 
physical, whilst in police custody.

"Rape and sexual assault are compounded by the authorities' failure to 
provide redress and protection," Amnesty International said.

Women surviving sexual violence often have their experiences compounded by 
being ostracized. Other women have been forced to flee their homes, with or 
without their families. Many women often do not disclose sexual assault 
because they believe that reporting it will not result in the perpetrators 
being punished.

In fact, women who speak out against sexual violence by agents of the state 
are at risk of further abuse. Women who have spoken out about their ordeal 
have been subjected to legal action, threats and imprisonment. Lawyers 
representing women who have been sexually assaulted in custody have in turn 
been subjected to official, media and peer persecution.

Access to redress has been particularly difficult when perpetrators of 
sexual violence have been state actors, both because of the scarcity of 
prosecutions and because the law on the prosecution of state officials 
means that individuals who are able to take advantage of the statute of 
limitations are more likely to be state officials than other individuals 
facing criminal charges. At present, individuals cannot be sentenced for 
crimes after a specified period of time has passed from the date of the crime.

"Lengthy delays in court proceedings do not just delay justice -- they 
contribute to perpetrators not being brought to justice at all," Amnesty 
International said.

Discrimination against women and the sexual assault of women are linked. 
When individuals representing the state express discriminatory attitudes, 
this not only falls far short of upholding women's rights, but Amnesty 
International is concerned that it may contribute to perpetuating a culture 
of violence against all women.

"When agents of the state perpetrate violence against women it sends a 
clear message condoning such acts of violence in all spheres -- be they 
official, in the family, or by the individual -- and places all women at risk."

"This situation cannot remain unchecked."

Amnesty International called on the Turkish government to undertake 
widespread reforms to end sexual violence against women, including:
- ending the blindfolding and stripping of detainees during questioning;
- ending the strip-searching of female detainees by male officials.
- End blindfolding in police custody;
- bringing those responsible for human rights violations, including those 
who order them, to justice.


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View the report "Turkey: End sexual violence against women in custody!" 
online, visit http://click.topica.com/maaaSEeaaWhrubb0imPb/ (available in 
English and in Turkish)

View all documents on Turkey at http://click.topica.com/maaaSEeaaWhrvbb0imPb/

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