The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) had promised to fight violence against women in its elections manifesto and it is doing so through a series of interesting and creative initiatives.

Nusaybin municipality (in the province of Mardin) has signed a contract with union Tüm-Bel-Sen, in which they agree that council workers will be stripped of their rights if they marry a second wife, have a mistress or marry their daughter off before she reaches age 18.

The collective labor agreement is not the first of its type signed by BDP run municipalities.

Nusaybin mayor, Ms Ayþe Gökkan underlined that the agreement reflect the importance the BDP attaches to women's issues in politics.

The 28-article agreement was signed by the union which underlined the specific article addressing the need to fight against domestic violence was asked for by the mayor herself.

The text of the article is as follows: in cases of adultery, marrying a second wife, berdel [i.e. the exchange of wives] and underage marriages, our male workers will be stripped from all their rights as stated in the agreement.

Interestingly enough if a male worker is found guilty of physical or economic violence against a woman, all his economic rights in the agreement will be transferred to his wife.

The agreement also grants paid leave for women workers on November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, as well as March 8, International Women's Day.

Furthermore the agreement states that parents who do not send their daughters to school cannot benefit from the collective agreement.