Issue: 59
Onur Çekiç and Esma Arslan, are two of the 75 legislative experts who attended the gender mainstreaming trainings organized jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and coordinated by the Equal Opportunities Commission for Women and Men (KEFEK) and the Legislative Experts Association (YUDER) at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in Ankara between 4-19 October 2010. In an interview with New Horizons, Onur Çekiç, a legal advisor at the Turkish Grand National Assembly since 2005 and an executive member of YUDER, and Esma Arslan a legislative expert at the Budget Directorate said that the trainings heightened their awareness to gender like never before.
Who is a legislative expert?
Onur Çekiç (O.Ç.): Legislative experts are not just lawyers or legal advisors but also economists and political science experts. Legislative experts work at four directorates at the TGNA: The Directorate for Laws and Decisions, the Budget Directorate, The Research Center Directorate, and the Directorate for Foreign Affairs and Protocol. While it’s mostly legislative experts with a legal background who work at the Directorate for Laws and Decisions, economists work at the Budget Directorate. In other words, legislative experts do not necessarily have to be lawyers.
What does a legislative expert do?
O.Ç.: It might actually be easier to answer a question that asks what doesn’t a legislative expert do. All joking aside, the legislative body, as is stated in the Constitution, is the General Assembly of the TGNA, composed of 550 members of parliament. The MPs, or politicians, are the actual owners of legislation. Naturally, they require technical, legal and administrative assistance when forming legislations and this is where we come in. We are responsible for running and coordinating what goes on behind the scenes. I would like to emphasize that we do not run the legislative function, that function belongs entirely to the politicians. We provide support services.
How many legislative experts currently work at the TGNA?
O.Ç.: I would say there are around 100 to 103. We have increased in number in the past few years. Junior experts who successfully pass the required examinations continue to be hired almost every year.
How did you decide to participate at the trainings?
O.Ç.: The trainings came about as part of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Women and Men’s efforts. Though we don’t really know how the trainings came about, I think the trainings answered to the realization of the importance of gender equality in Turkey. Legislative activities are continuing and we are one of the most influential groups who contribute to the forming of such legislation. Now if you want to raise some sort of awareness about gender equality, you must first stick the needle to yourself before becoming critical of others and we were chosen as the group for the TGNA to raise awareness within itself. Being one of the pillars supporting the coordination of the trainings, we as YUDER tried to make the trainings as interactive as possible. We tried to ensure that the trainings were a dialogue instead of a monologue and took measures to ensure high participation rates. Gender Equality is a very important issue and as experts who have the power to intervene in one way or another in legislation making, we took it upon ourselves to view the trainings as a mandatory part of our work and planned them accordingly. I can say that on the whole, we have been successful.
On what were the trainings planned and what issues were covered?
E.A.: The first day of the trainings were based on theory and definitions and on the second day we focused on EU legislation. I think that the trainings had one important advantage. Both national and international instructors were present and so the trainings complimented each other. National instructors were able to identify Turkey-specific issues and international experts provided examples from other countries which was highly beneficial in terms of comparing gender issues.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by definitions?
E.A.: Even something as simple as the difference between sex and gender was an issue that most people are unaware of. While sex refers to the physical or biological differences between a woman and a man, gender is a concept formed aroun the roles society imposes on us.
O.Ç.: Equality has always been on the agenda but the trainings have created an awareness that the issue of equality is in fact not so simple and has multiple dimensions. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination for Women (CEDAW), is a document which we assumed was widely known, however, during the trainings we saw that it was the first time some of us had even heard about such a convention. In this regard, we actually realized the dire need in the country as a whole, to increase awareness about such documents. From our perspective, as practitioners, we did a comparative interactive session on how EU criteria may be applied in our national laws, or to what extent these criteria are used in some legislation and how they can be analyzed.
What were some of the areas where you had difficulty? Were there general challenges faced during the trainings?
O.Ç.: Rather than a challenge, we were faced with something for the first time and that was the adaptation of EU directives for national law. For instance, according to Turkish legislation, laws cannot contradict the Constitution. We conduct such analysis when a draft law is presented at the Assembly. However, a directive being applied to national law is a new concept and we have to double check the relevant legislation to see whether or not the EU directive is reflected in the legislation or not. On the one side, this has been very beneficial and on the other, because it is a new concept, it came up as something we have to work on.
E.A.: “I learned that I did not know the CEDAW” was a comment from one of the participants. According to Turkish law, conventions like the CEDAW, to which Turkey is a party, have precedence. So rulings in the CEDAW must be adapted to our national laws, this is an obligation of which some of the participants were unaware. This raised an awareness. On another note, there was an instance having to do with the use of gender sensitive knowledge. In translating CEDAW, the word elimination was translated as prevention. For something to be eliminated it needs to exist, however, it does not have to exist to be prevented. This was perhaps a political modification which was addressed during the trainings.
O.Ç.: Despite such issues however, an awareness on the fact that there is such a convention and that this convention takes precedence in our national law and that the state has certain responsibilities, was raised. As a legislative expert, I find it very important that I am now more aware of considering both international conventions like the CEDAW and national legislation.
When you look at gender equality from a legislative perspective, where does Turkey stand? What progress has been made?
O.Ç.: The trainings led the realization that knowing the path and walking on the path are two different things. When we look at the legislation in Turkey, we can’t say that there are serious shortcomings, and that there are many rulings to ensure equality. However, when we look at their application and consider women’s participation in labour, the challenges they face when climbing career steps, the roles they play during marriage and even something as fundamental as the right to use their last names, we see that there are certain negativities.
The trainings indicated that rather than legal obstacles, there are some challenges when it comes to applying the legislation. To change how women are often viewed, the roles society imposes on them, which is subject to regional differences, much time is needed. The formation of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Women and Men’s, and the fact that the commission is working towards equality, the fact that conventions like CEDAW are part of our national law and that awareness campaigns are being run are steps in the right direction. However, we are still not there yet. We still do not see women among high-level decision makers, and there are still challenges in women’s representation in political parties.
The problem does not arise from legal scripts but from social perspectives.
E.A.: I agree that there are no large shortcomings in the legislation but when we look at the country in general, we only have one female undersecretary and she has just recently been appointed. When you look at governors and district governors, the number of women is too few to mention. If this isn’t discrimination, then what is? This does not have to do with laws, but has to do entirely with how women are viewed in society. Although the state is trying to ensure gender equality with laws, I think that it is necessary to provide awareness raising trainings in cooperation with the civil society. Aside from transforming laws, it is absolutely essential to provide gender equality training. It is also very important for men to empathize because you cannot understand a situation to which you are exposed. Because men are not exposed to gender-based inequality, it might be hard for them to understand what women face. Trainings based on empathy must be increased to the extent possible.
Do you think that the trainings you recieved will contribute, if only partly, to changing societal points of view?
O.Ç.: The trainings are important to prevent possible challenges and to warn the necessary people. Just because there are no legal drawbacks now, does not mean that there will be no shortcomings in the future.
The Academy’s new three-storey building is equipped with meeting and conference rooms, digital printing, film and DVD post-production as well as photography studios.
The opening ceremony on 22 October 2010 was attended by the State Minister responsible from women and family affairs Selma Aliye Kavaf along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Shahid Najam, Vodafone Turkey CEO Serpil Timuray, President of the Vodafone Turkey Foundation Hasan Süel, and President of the Alternative Life Association (AYDER) Ercan Tutal.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kavaf explained that regulations to ensure the participation of the disabled in all parts of life are being realized and that ensuring this participation is among the top social policy priorities. With the support of their families, Kavaf said the aim is to make sure that no disabled child is left without an education and continued “we will continue to support social transformation efforts benefitting the disabled. I would like to take this opportunity to wish continued success to the Dreams Academy”.
Najam, underlined the fact that the United Nations Development Programme supports efforts towards social inclusion, and sees these essential projects, like the Dreams Academy, as part of its reason of existence. Najam said: “This academy shows the world that the social inclusion is achievable. And this success has been awarded by various valuable international prizes so far. We as the UN family in Turkey are proud of this academy and its success.”
At the Academy’s new headquarters, arts workshops including theatre, dance, drawing, instrument playing, and photography, self-improvement workshops like preparing for the business world, communication skills, and individual coaching and sports activities as well as production workshops to provide employment for disadvantaged youth will continue to take place.
Innovative approaches and rich education opportunities, provided by Marmara University Fine Arts Faculty will continue to be provided free of charge for the Academy students.
Sound technologies for the visually impaired and lighting technologies for the hearing impaired which will be applied at the Dreams Academy is expected to open new horizons for education and employment of the disabled and generate buzz in the international arena.
Developed jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Alternative Life Association (AYDER) and the State Planning Organization (SPO), and realized with funding from the Vodafone Turkey Foundation, the Dreams Academy provides culture and arts education to support the inclusion of disadvantaged youth into social life and to enhance their employment opportunities by organizing workshops in places designated by the Beşiktaş Municipality. An international social responsibility project where experts in their respective fields provide free culture and arts education to disadvantaged young women and men, the Dreams Academy comprises of rhythm, dance, film, photography, DJ, instrument, drawing, and design workshops.
In the scope of the training programme organized jointly by the Middle East Technical University Earth System Sciences Institute and the United Nations Joint Programme on Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change, between 20 September and 15 October 2010, participants received training on climate change and adaptation. Those who successfully completed the trainings were given certificates by the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Shahid Najam who said that the training programme will increase and enrich participants’ knowledge which will surely reflect on their professional lives.
The four-week training programme consisted of classes on climate change, effects of climate change, adaptation to these effects, adaptation strategies, adaptation policies and planning, understanding the social and economic dimensions of adaptation, the status of climate change in Turkey, climate change policies and sustainable development policy interaction which were given by a team of 44 professionals and academics. The 105-hour programme aimed to create capacities in the field of climate change, generate scientific research, enhance project management, develop decision-making mechanisms and form human resources of implementing institutions.
At the training programme attended by 33 people from various public organizations and institutions, universities and civil society institutions, classes took place in classrooms for the first three weeks. During the fourth week, participants created projects related with their area of interest or professional fields. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants were awarded certificates at a ceremony.
Speaking at the certificate ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Shahid Najam explained that cooperation with the Middle East Technical University Earth System Sciences Institute will contribute to increased capacities for climate change adaptation. He further drew attention to the importance for decision-makers to include academic experts in strategic planning processes which would otherwise not be inclusive.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) who carry out various activities in the scope of Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change UN Joint Programme provided scholarships to some of the participants.
Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change UN Joint programme was launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and UNDP in 2008 to facilitate Turkey’s adaptation to the effects of climate change, combat these effects, mitigate uncertainties and vulnerabilities and establish necessary strategies. Funded by the Government of Spain’s Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, the Joint Programme comprises of objectives and activities in the Seyhan River Basin to support climate change adaptation efforts at the local level. Other UN Agencies in the programme are UNIDO, FAO and UNEP.
Though the name Corporate Service Corps may have some military connotations, the CSC is actually a global IBM employee leadership initiative based on international corporate volunteerism. Three of the CSC team members Canadian client advocate Caroline Fiset, Australian technical support manager Rob Barker and American communications expert Tom Burke answered questions for New Horizons to explain who they are, and what they are doing in Malatya. As Tom puts it, “The overall goal is to create global awareness and generating revenue for Malatya.”
UNDP Turkey: Who is a CSC volunteer? What assets should you have to be a volunteer?
Tom Burke (T.B.): A CSC volunteer is an IBMer who wants to leverage his/her unique expertise and life experiences to help make a small part of the world better. A CSC volunteer is a team player, who cares more about others than self and who is open to learning and expanding his/her horizons in an environment that may be psychologically, physically and intellectually challenging.
UNDP Turkey: How long have you been volunteering under the CSC programme? Can you define the nature of the work you do in 1-2 sentences?
Caroline Fiset (C.F.): I have been volunteering in the CSC program for 9 days. I am assigned to the project called Strategic Planning for Development of a Sustainable Tourism Sector in Malatya. The objective is to analyze the current structure of Malatya’s tourism and to develop and action plan/road map that will develop and promote tourism for Malatya.
UNDP Turkey: What brings you to Malatya? Have you worked anywhere else as a volunteer before?
T.B.: As part of IBM’s Corporate Service Corps program I am on a team of 14 IBMers from around the world who are in Malatya working through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the Malatya Provincial Governor and Fırat Development Agency. My three-person sub-team is focusing on developing a sustainable tourism strategy for Malatya.
UNDP Turkey: Can you give some information about your project, what is it that you do? What do you hope to achieve? How will you go about achieving it, etc.?
Rob Barker (R.B.): I’m working in the agri-foods sector. We are helping guide a couple of organizations with their strategic planning and marketing. We are following a well defined and well used consulting practice (called Issue Based Consulting) and global best practices for defining a Strategic Framework. At the moment we are gathering as much information as possible through interview with the many key stakeholders in the two institutions.
UNDP Turkey: Can you talk a bit about what changes you have noticed in the people you work with, since you first started to work in Malatya?
R.B.: We are a large team (14 members) and as the work progresses, smaller groups, more tightly knit then the larger group, are forming. This is perfectly normal team dynamics however, something really interesting happened on a weekend extrusion. We were hiking around Mount Nemrut and the team has started to separate. As it became clear that a few members were struggling with the mountain climb at high altitude, the team quickly banded together to help – with fitter members pressing on to get a vehicle too double back and pick up the rest. No one left behind! Cliques or no cliques it’s clear that this team will succeed given any challenge.
UNDP Turkey: What are some of the challenges you have faced during your time in Malatya?
T.B.: Blending into a new culture is challenging in itself. Just about everything is new, so while you are expending time and energy learning, about your surroundings, you also are expending time and energy accomplishing the work that is the purpose of your trip. You also must cope with trying to communicate with people who speak a different language and you have to learn to work in constant and close contact with the other members of your Corporate Service Corps team. It also is challenging to disengage from your regular IBM work and your normal life. Being away from home for an extended period of time is challenging, too. UNDP, Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and IBM leadership have made the assignment as easy, enjoyable and beneficial as possible.
UNDP Turkey: What expectations do you have from the project? What difference do you expect to make in people’s lives?
T.B.: I realize that not all of our recommendations will be accepted and implemented, but I hope our work opens eyes to greater possibilities. Perhaps our work will inspire somebody to dream and through those dreams great things will take place. I also hope that the people in Malatya in the area of tourism, and in the areas the other sub-teams are working in, realize that they have a lot to be proud of and they can make an impact on people’s lives through their work and efforts.
UNDP Turkey: How do you ensure that the project is sustainable?
C.F.: By providing short term and long term objectives and helping them in identifying tools that can be used to implement them. Of course, I will stay available for them in the future if needed… Coming up with a monitoring phase; that would be even better.
UNDP Turkey: Will you continue to work as a volunteer elsewhere?
R.B.: Absolutely!
The fifth term of the CSC program in Turkey, implemented in Malatya in coordination with the Governorate supervision of Governor Ulvi Saran. The team will work for the development of the province until 7th November.
Launched by IBM in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), State Planning Organization (DPT), Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and Corporate Volunteer Association (OSGD), the CSC programme in Turkey brings together global expertise and local knowledge to find solutions for local challenges. Beginning in 2009, two CSC teams were deployed to Mersin, two teams were deployed to Gaziantep in the first half of 2010 and one team is currently working in Malatya. As of now a total of 53 IBM volunteer experts came to Turkey to work on development projects and each provided a month of voluntary service in country.
Decreasing the usage of firewood, the loans have saved a 14.6 hectare oak forest and prevented a total of more than 821 tonnes of carbon emissions in two years.
In cooperation with provincial environment and forest directorates, ORKÖY is providing loans in Kastamonu and Bartın based on issues identified during preliminary works aiming to socially and economically empower the locals. Efforts are carried out to ensure that civil society organizations use the grant support from project resources in Kastamonu and Bartın. Works to increase income generating activities that serve sustainable natural resource management and to halt urban migration due to unemployment are ongoing.
Women are given priority when carrying out such efforts. In villages near Kastamonu’s Azdavay, Şenpazar, Cide and Pınarbaşı districts, alternative income opportunities from making products like rag dolls in traditional outfits will be opened for local women. In Bartın, 15 out of 38 participants (most of whom are women) from Aşağıçerçi, Ulukaya, Alıçlı, Köklü, Kozanlı, Aşağıçamlı and Yukarıdere villages who have successfully completed the “Ecotourism Home Pensioning” course, the first ever ecotourism–based course to take place on national parks will be supported in furnishing rooms for pensioning.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System project is implemented by UNDP Turkey; and executed by Ministry of Environment and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, and General Directorate of Forestry under the partnership of General Directorate of Forest-Village Relations, General Directorate of Afforestation and Erosion Control, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Turkey. The project aims to create a model to enhance nature conservation and sustainable resource management in Küre Mountains National Park and its buffer zone, and disseminate this model to other 8 forest hotspots in Turkey.
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While the Dreams Academy project run jointly by UNDP, the Alternative Life Association (AYDER) and the State Planning Organization (SPO) with support from the Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Besiktas Municipality was voted the best CSR solution, “I Can Manage my Money” - a UNDP, SPO, Youth for Habitat, Visa Europe and member banks joint project – was voted fifth in a visitor’s poll.
At the event, companies like Avea, BP, Carat Media, Coca-Cola Turkey, Coca-Cola Beverages, Doğuş Automotive, Garanti Bank, HSBC, İncekara Holding, Lansinoh Laboratories, TEB, Visa Europe, Vodafone, Yüksel Construction and Shell & Turcas Petroleum presented projects developed in the field of social responsibility. “Life Plus for Youth”, a UNDP, Coca-Cola Life Plus Foundation and Yaşama Dair Foundation joint project which supports young people’s innovative, creative, participatory and sustainable environment projects aiming to provide social benefits was also one of the projects exhibited at the event.
The UN Global Compact Turkey Local Network also set up a stand at the “CSR Solutions Marketplace” event to introduce its activities in Turkey.
Taking place in Turkey for the second time, the “CSR Solutions Marketplace” event was organized jointly by the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association and Kadir Has University. The theme of the event was Social Responsibility Culture to emphasize that social responsibility should not be perceived as a process but should instead be adopted by companies as part of their corporate culture. The “CSR Solutions Marketplace” formed an effective platform to share information and experience in this field. The event aims to increase public awareness and contribute to the setting of targets in Corporate Social Responsibility.
Yüksel Construction, Avea, and Lansinoh Laboratories were the other three CSR solutions award winners.
“The Dreams Academy”, a project carried out to support the social inclusion of the physically disabled through arts and culture activities, has been ongoing since 2008. The project has provided the opportunity for approximately 1,000 students to receive classes at art ateliers. 40 talented young men and women were also employed and provided scholarships to continue a career in the arts, within the project scope.
“I Can Manage My Money” initiated towards the end of 2009 to enhance financial awareness among youth in Turkey and contribute to a sustainable economy, aims to increase the financial awareness of high school and university students, youth NGOs, public youth representatives and unorganized youth aged 15-30.
National Geographic Turkey featured a spread on Küre Mountains National Park in its October 2010 issue. Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System Project Deputy Manager Yıldıray Lise describes protection and sustainable development efforts and the contribution of locals to such efforts in an article titled “A tale of four seasons: Küre Mountains”.
National Geographic Turkey featured a spread on Küre Mountains National Park in its October 2010 issue. “Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System” Project Deputy Manager Yıldıray Lise describes protection and sustainable development efforts and the contribution of locals to such efforts in an article titled “A tale of four seasons: Küre Mountains”. Accompanied by Aykut İnce and Selmet Güler’s photos, Lise tells the story of natural beauties, rich biological diversity, historical, cultural and landscape assets, geological traits, the lives of villagers in surrounding areas, regional best practices, project activities and regional characteristics. His take on the Küre Mountains being declared a national park “On the 11th day of August 1999, the moon got jealous of the sun, with whom it once blessed this breathtaking geography and took over. The sky became dark at midday and with a glorious ceremony, 370 square kilometers of the Küre Mountains was soon to be declared a national park. Everyone who watched this moment realized that the decision to protect the area was a gift from Turkey to the world.
Efforts carried out to better protect and manage the area surrounding the park and best practices such as ecotorism and the sustainable use of resources is emphasized throughout the article published by National Geopgraphic Turkey.
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The first Human Development Report in 1990 opened with the simply stated premise that has guided all subsequent Reports: “People are the real wealth of a nation.” By backing up this assertion with an abundance of empirical data and a new way of thinking about and measuring development, the Human Development Report has had a profound impact on development policies around the world. This 20th anniversary edition features introductory reflections by the Nobel Prize–winning economist Amartya Sen, who worked with series founder Mahbub ul Haq on the conception of the first Human Development Report and contributed to and inspired many successive volumes.
The 2010 Report continues the tradition of pushing the frontiers of development thinking. For the first time since 1990, the Report looks back rigorously at the past several decades and identifies often surprising trends and patterns with important lessons for the future. These varied pathways to human development show that there is no single formula for sustainable progress—and that impressive long-term gains can and have been achieved even without consistent economic growth.
Looking beyond 2010, this Report surveys critical aspects of human development, from political freedoms and empowerment to sustainability and human security, and outlines a broader agenda for research and policies to respond to these challenges.
As Amartya Sen writes: “Twenty years after the appearance of the first Human Development Report, there is much to celebrate in what has been achieved. But we also have to be alive to ways of improving the assessment of old adversities and of recognizing—and responding to—new threats that endanger human well-being and freedom.“
The 20th anniversary edition is a response to that human development imperative.
The Report will be released on 4 November 2010.