800,000 Troops to Get Woman-Friendly Training

Minister Cubukcu reveals new Platform to Prevent Violence and says 800,000 Turkish soldiers will receive training to prevent violence against woman, in cooperation with Turkeys Chief of General Staff.

Ankara

Turkey's State Minister in Charge of Women Affairs Nimet Cubukcu has revealed two new initiatives in the country that aim to prevent violence against women while raising awareness of the issue among men.

Cubukcu, speaking at the Democracy Assistance Dialogue on Strengthening the Place of Women in Society (DYD) held in Ankara, said Turkey was continuing with its efforts to curb violence against women in all walks of life.

Cubukcu said that after recent work conducted together with Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate on the issue, one of the new programs that was currently going underway in cooperation with the Chief of General Staff aims to educate 800,000 soldiers in military service on prevention of violence.

She said that in order to prevent violence against women, a "Platform to Prevent Violence" has been set up with the participation of members of Parliament, public institutions, universities, media and non-governmental organisations.

In his speech at the same conference, Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that "until women achieve the equal role that they deserve within the society, it will not be possible to reach the target of lasting peace."

Gul argued that Turkey's role in the region required far more attention and and added that it was a mistake to believe religious and cultural traditions prevented women from having more important roles in the region. "Since the Islamic religion has come to being" the Minister said, "women have always been in the forefront of the society and have taken important roles. (AD/II/YE)