The undersigned organizations want the Special Rapporteur to address violence against women, its causes and consequences during her visit to Turkey scheduled for July 18-27, 2022.
A group of Kurdish and Syrian organizations active in North and East Syria submitted a complaint to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Reem Alsalem, about crimes committed against women in the areas occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries in Syria, its causes and consequences.
The signatory organizations drew the attention of the United Nations Special Rapporteur to the “failure of the Turkish authorities to fulfill their obligations under international law to prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of violence against women.”
In their 9-page complaint, the organizations documented the crimes of violence committed against women in the occupied areas, where some of these organizations met with women who were subjected to rape and violence by the Turkish occupation forces and allied mercenaries.
According to the complaint, between October 2020 and September 2021, civil society organizations found that “54 women and girls in the Afrin region reported being arrested.” It pointed out that "women in detention are subjected to various forms of torture and ill-treatment practiced against them, based on their gender."
The complaint stated, "The violations and abuses committed by the armed groups controlled by Turkey in the occupied areas of northern Syria were addressed by many parties, including the various United Nations bodies," adding, "Acts that represent various forms of violence are committed." As a result of the rape and other acts of sexual violence committed repeatedly and directed by the Syrian National Army against women and girls in Gire Spi (Tal Abyad), many families have chosen not to return to their homes.”
The report also indicated that the undersigned organizations would like the Special Rapporteur to address violence against women, its causes and consequences during her visit to Turkey scheduled for July 18-27, 2022.
The signatory organizations to the complaint are; Êzidîne, Peymangeha Kurdî ya Aştiyê, Tora Pêşengên Aştiyê, PÊL – Civil Waves, Rêxistina Sara ya Têkoşîna li dijî Tundiya li ser Jinan, Platforma Serêkaniyê, Komela Şawîşka ya Jinan, Weqfa Hevdestî ya Qurbaniyan a Bakur û Rojhilatê Sûriyê, Sûriyûn (Syrians for Truth and Justice) ve Platforma Genim û Zeytûnê.
