The fifth newsletter of Haklara Destek II program is titled “Struggling Together for LGBTI+ Rights”. Given the current socio-political environment in Turkey where LGBTI+ organizations are being openly targeted, the pro-government Big Family Platform, which endorses an anti-LGBTI+ position under the pretext of protecting family, organizes rallies, and LGBTI+s live under constant pressure, we decided to come together with organizations working in the field of LGBTI+ rights and visibility strategies in Ankara on 27th of October.
In our third one-day network meeting titled “LGBTI+ Struggle and Visibility Strategies Against Organized Hatred”, we hosted, in addition to the Haklara Destek II organizations, four organizations from Ankara and two organizations from Lebanon that are active in the field of LGBTI+ rights. During the sessions we focused on the visibility strategies developed by organizations to struggle against hate speech in Turkey and Lebanon. We also discussed the possible solutions to address it and had the opportunity to talk about how we can expand and enhance cooperation and solidarity. You can read about the details of the meeting below.
In the network meeting titled “LGBTI+ Struggle and Visibility Strategies Against Organized Hatred” we asked Association of Families and Friends of LGBTI+ in Turkey (LGBTİ+ Aileleri ve Yakınları Derneği, LISTAG), Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (Sosyal Politika, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği, SPoD), and HEVI LGBTI+ Association (Hak Eşitlik Varoluş İçin Lezbiyen Gey Biseksüel Transseksüel İnterseksüel Derneği) to share their anniversary messages.
LISTAG is 15 years old!
"We are here to defend the rights of our LGBTI+ children together! We are very much aware of the importance of solidarity and unity in this struggle. LGBTI+ rights are human rights, and it is the responsibility of all of us to protect these rights. To build a fairer and more equal world we will keep on walking and working without leaving anyone behind. Together we will defend our LGBTI+ children’s rights to exist. Each one of our children has the right to be equal citizens. We believe that by drawing strength from each other we will win this fight!”
SPoD is 12 years old!
"No matter where we are in the world, queers share a common experience. This is not only because of the pain we suffer and the violations of rights we are exposed to. We laugh at similar things, dance in similar ways, imagine a similar world. This commonality is the strongest thing that holds us together. We hope to remember and make known our commonalities that keep us together and our solidarity that renders us resilient.”
Hevi LGBTI+ is 10 years old!
"On September 1, 2013, the World Day of Peace, we turned 10 in our journey that we began in Istanbul with banners reading ‘Full equality of rights for all nations, beliefs and identities!’ The demand for equality, freedom, and peace that we have been fighting for since our foundation is still the greatest social and public need of those deemed others. With each passing day, we are rapidly moving away from the equal, just, and free society we dream of. In the light of these developments, we are celebrating our tenth anniversary. We will build better times with our struggle, resistance, and hope. We would like to thank everyone who has been a part of our association to date and all those with whom we have struggled together and shared common values.”
We held our third Haklara Destek II network meeting, “LGBTI+ Struggle and Visibility Strategies Against Organized Hatred'' on October 27 in Ankara with the participation of organizations active in the field of LGBTI+ rights.
Besides the representatives from two LGBTI+ organizations from Lebanon, the meeting was attended by Haklara Destek organizations such as Altyazı Cinema Association (Altyazı Derneği), Cultural Research Center for Peace (Barış için Kültürel Araştırmalar Derneği, bakad), Association for Legal Support against Sexual Violence (Cinsel Şiddete Karşı Hukuki Yardım Derneği), HEVI LGBTI+ Association (Hak Eşitlik Varoluş İçin Lezbiyen Gey Biseksüel Transseksüel İnterseksüel Derneği, HEVİ LGBTİ+), Association of Families and Friends of LGBTI+ in Turkey (LGBTİ+ Aileleri ve Yakınları Derneği, Listag), Pink Life LGBTI Solidarity Association (Pembe Hayat LGBTİ Dayanışma Derneği) and Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (Sosyal Politika, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği, SPoD). Additionally, May 17 Association (17 Mayıs Derneği), Red Umbrella Association for Sexual Health and Human Rights (Kırmızı Şemsiye Cinsel Sağlık ve İnsan Hakları Derneği), Unikuir Association (Unikuir Derneği), and Kaos GL, which are active in Ankara, accepted our invitation and participated in the meeting.
The format of the meeting was hybrid. The participants from Lebanon joining the panel online. After the opening speeches of Alessandro Angius from the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey and Julia Bartmann from Heinrich Böll Stiftung, we had a short warm-up activity facilitated by Hilal Başak Demirbaş from Hafıza Merkezi to learn about each other’s fields of work and to get to know the participants.
After the warm-up activity, we moved on to the two-hours-long panel “LGBTI+ Rights Struggle and Visibility in Lebanon and Turkey”. A representative from the LGBTI+ organization called Helem, which means “to dream” in Arabic, a representative* from another Lebanese LGBTI+ organization, and Umut Güner from Kaos GL participated in the panel.
In the panel moderated by Balacan Ayar from Hafıza Merkezi, we discussed organizations’ struggle methods to survive in repressive regimes based on their visibility activities. Both representatives talked about possible ways to be activists and to continue organized struggle in a country like Lebanon, where homosexuality is criminalized. They also talked about the difficulties they face and the ways in which they create opportunities and organize solidarity. We asked our third panelist Umut Güner, the director of Kaos GL, about the past and present of the Rainbow Association Against Discrimination. Umut began by telling us about the last 10-odd years of LGBTI+ struggle in Turkey and what has changed since the time when the association was a coalition. Umut stated that this umbrella association consisting of LGBTI+ organizations was created to give organizations the opportunity to act together and improve their capacities. Umut also talked about the ways in which LGBTI+ organizations are uniting against increasing organized hate speech, and especially against the constitutional amendment. In so doing, he emphasized that solidarity building is a labor-intensive process.
The last session of the day was a group work facilitated by Olcay Özer from Hafıza Merkezi. Before the network meeting, we had asked the organizations to come up with questions about the visibility strategies specific to the LGBTI+ movement. We organized an interactive group work that we designed together with the questions the organizations came up with and the topics that emerged during the meeting.
We would like to once again thank the two LGBTI+ organizations in Lebanon, one of which is Helem, all participating organizations, Umut and everyone invited, and those who met with us online despite the difficulties and shared their experiences with us.
For the details of the network meeting click here.
* Due to security concerns the name of the organization and the participant are omitted.
Experience Sharing Meetings Continue
On August 10, we began the experience sharing meetings, where Haklara Destek organizations share “best practices” pertaining to their work. The first meeting was on podcast production. In the past two months, we continued our meetings with three different topics.
On September 7, we held the second meeting on hotlines and counseling services. In the meeting held on the 29th of September we talked about field work, and finally on the 20th of October we shared our experiences on scholarship programs. We will continue our meetings with different topics.
Haklara Destek Capacity Building Webinars Continue: Effective Digital Media Use for CSOs
As part of Haklara Destek’s capacity building program, on the 25th of September, we organized a two-hour webinar on the ways in which civil society organizations can effectively use digital media. The webinar was given by Communication Expert Kenan Dursun who shared tips and tactics on how organizations can use the power of digital media to improve their communication strategies and communicate their mission to a wider audience. The webinar was attended by representatives from 28 organizations that want to build and/or strengthen their presence in the digital world.
News From Haklara Destek Organizations
Altyazı Cinema Association (Altyazı Sinema Derneği) continues to publish their monthly Free Cinema (Özgür Sinema) bulletin. The association covered the solidarity formed by the filmmakers in the aftermath of the earthquake, discrimination and censorship in the art world, and news from the film industry in the August issue. The September issue focuses on the Gezi Trial, the censorship regarding the movie Kanun Hükmü, the ongoing lawsuits, and news from the film industry. On the 5th of October, the association participated in the conference “Local Administrations and Cinema: Experiences, Possibilities, and Needs” held at MARUF23. The association organized a mini festival in collaboration with Postane on the 21st of October.
Cultural Research Center for Peace (Barış İçin Kültürel Araştırmalar Derneği, bakad) aired two new episodes, “Gender and Belief Under the Captivity of Patriarchy” and “Keskesor Amed LGBTI Formation”, on its podcast channel The Passages.
Association for Legal Support against Sexual Violence (Cinsel Şiddete Karşı Hukuki Yardım Derneği) is following the lawsuit against M.S., who systematically sexually harassed a 10-year-old child in Viranşehir. During the hearing held in October, the request for M.S. to be arrested was denied.
Association for Monitoring and Preventing Child Labor (Çocuk İşçiliğini İzleme ve Önleme Derneği) published its recommendation report “The relationship between child labor and the right to peace” (Çocuk İşçiliği ve Barış Hakkı Arasındaki İlişki) on World Peace Day. The report emphasizes the importance of right to peace for the struggle against child labor.
Women’s State of Solidarity Association (Dayanışmanın Kadın Hali Derneği, DAKAHDER) completed its legal and psychological support project for women and LGBTI+s in Adıyaman Narlıkuyu Tent City with the support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in September. They also aired two new episodes, “Restorative Justice” and “Importance of Gender Education” on their podcast channel Dakahder Speaks.
Denizli Autism Association (Denizli Otizm Derneği) conversed with Alperen Aşanbuğa, the project manager of “Autistic Individuals in the Workforce” project and the individuals with autism and their families in the program DOD's Window. The project is carried out by Eker with the aim of addressing the employment of individuals with autism.
Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği) published their monthly report “Violations of Rights against Journalists” in Turkish and Kurdish in September. On the 17th of October, they shared the trial schedule of the “You practice journalism” cases. The association’s co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu, who is still under arrest, won this year’s “most resilient journalist” award from Free Press Unlimited.
Minus 25 Association (Eksi 25 Derneği) held workshops with children in Bir Arada Children’s Village in the months of September and October. The workshops included Smart Structures, Mind/Brain Games, Fun Cups, Film Workshop, Drawing My Rights and Responsibilities, Wooden Building Block, Painting Activity, Obstacle Corridor, Rhythm, and Tracking Colors. The association also gave physical activity counseling and family education trainings to E-parents in October.
Access Without Barriers Association (Engelsiz Erişim Derneği) held the 10th White Cane and Accessibility Festival organized on October 13-14 at Istanbul University Beyazıt Campus. This year, the motto of the festival was: “Braille, Cane, Informatics; Change with Artificial Intelligence”.
Solidarity for Equality Association’s (Eşitlik İçin Dayanışma Derneği) website was launched in September. The association carries out the Child-Focused Capacity Building Project for CSOs in Provinces Receiving Earthquake Migration. The first leg of the project, the Individual Empowerment Program, which is open to people working with children who have experienced earthquake migration in Bursa, Mardin and Izmir, is ongoing.
Association for Migration Research (Göç Araştırmaları Derneği) started the GAR Graduate Researcher Training Program (GArEP) for graduate researchers working in the field of migration on the 17th of October. The program will continue until the 6th of February. The September issue of the monthly GAR newsletter, which includes news from the association and its members, has been published. In addition, the GAR Blog was launched to follow the migration agenda more closely and contribute to public debates.
Migration and Humanitarian Aid Foundation (Göç ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı, GİYAV) completed the Empowering Children in Combating Violence against Children in the Digital World: Supporting Children’s Rights with Child Participation and Sub-Grant Program which has been carried within the scope of Microphone Project of the International Children’s Center. The foundation also completed the drone training which is the first leg of the “Children’s Digital Rights and Drone Training”.
Hevi LGBTI+ (Hak Eşitlik Varoluş İçin Lezbiyen Gey Biseksüel Transseksüel İnterseksüel Derneği) participated in the “Rethinking Migration Narratives” workshop organized by DEMOS in partnership with Havle Women’s Association, Positive Solidarity and SPoD. The association has completed the third term applications to free psychotherapy sessions for refugee LGBTI+ persons on the 16th of October. The association also participated in the Pride events and Pride forum organized during the Belgrade Pride 2023 human rights conference as well as the Peace Congress in Germany. Supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, the association conducted the workshops of the Refugee LGBTI+ Empowerment Project in Eskişehir and Yalova. The association also participated in the Mainstreaming Gender Equality (GEMI) meeting organized by Civil Society Development Center (STGM) in Ankara as part of the Together Project.
Human Rights Association Diyarbakır Branch (İnsan Hakları Derneği Diyarbakır Şubesi) Board Member Yusuf Erdoğan and Human Rights Association Central Prisons Co-spokesperson Nuray Çevirmen made public the report titled “High Security and S Type Closed Prisons”.
Human Rights Association Headquarters (İnsan Hakları Derneği Genel Merkzi) made public its 2002 report on rights violations.
İsmail Beşikçi Foundation (İsmail Beşikçi Vakfı) held a conference on methodological problems faced in Kurdish history research on the 30th of September. The foundation will also award a “Perihan Ekinci - Tarık Ziya Ekinci PhD Scholarship” to a PhD candidate working in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities and on a topic that can be considered within the scope of Kurdish studies. The deadline for the application is 30th of November.
Women’s Time Association (Kadın Zamanı Derneği) published its activity report on the 14th of September. During Breast Cancer Awareness month, the association shared the list of locations that offered free screening for early diagnosis. Şükran Demir, a board member of the association, wrote an article titled War and Women for the Women’s Supplement. On the 28th of September, the association prepared an information note on economic violence in Turkish and Kurdish. The association participated in the “Local Governments Women’s Policies” workshop organized by Silopi Municipality on 7th and 8th of October. It also has begun its preparations for Gender Equality Awareness Workshops in Şile.
Katre Women’s Counseling and Solidarity Association (Katre Kadın Danışma ve Dayanışma Derneği) began its book reading and discussion days which will take place on the last Friday of every month. The first book they read is Duygu Asena’s The Woman Has No Name.
The Feminist Theory School organized by Kırkayak Culture, Arts, and Nature Association (Kırkayak Kültür Sanat ve Doğa Derneğ) in 2022 commenced its fall semester on the 10th of October. In the biweekly classes, in-depth discussions about feminism will be carried out based on various texts and different themes of feminist theory will be discussed.
Komeleya Kurdi's (Kurdish Research Association, Kürt Araştırmaları Derneği) children’s workshop in Kurdish began on the 28th of October and will last for 12 weeks.
Mesopotamia Education, Science, Arts, Health, and Culture Foundation (Mezopotamya Eğitim Bilim Sanat Sağlık ve Kültür Vakfı) completed the gender trainings offered by DAKAHDER.
Mordem Art and Ecological Life Association (Mordem Sanat ve Ekolojik Yaşam Derneği), in September, staged the play “Eko Güneş Yolculuğunda'' for children in 12 different areas in Adıyaman within the framework of the Tell Your Story Project, where topics such as environmental pollution, climate change, the effects of toxic gases, etc. were explained. It also organized a puppet making workshop. Barış Işık from the association participated in the “Dialogue, Solidarity and Resilience” workshop held in Gaziantep as part of the Elele Program. This year, between the 27th of October and 5th of November, at the fourth Solo Fest organized by the association, the association focuses on Kurdish cultural heritage and its transmission. The festival, which they call “Grab Your Color and Come”, is based on the tradition of one-person narrative and tries to transfer and keep alive different forms of this tradition which also exist in other cultures The ticket revenues of the festival will be utilized to increase access to art for children in earthquake zones. Başka Sinema film screenings at Mordem Sanat are continuing in October.
The Children First Association (Önce Çocuklar Derneği) conducted research on children’s access to their mother tongue and their cultural rights within the scope of the More Rightful Tomorrow Project. The association reported the results of the research which was conducted with the participation of 520 children. In order for children to recognize their cultural values in their mother tongue, in cooperation with Zarok TV, the association rendered the six episodes long animated series Gergerok accessible to Kurdish children. Gergerok introduces six cities and six cultural structures in six episodes. On the 27th of September, the association made public a press release titled “Solidarity Keeps Us Alive”.
Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association (Pembe Hayat LGBTİ+ Dayanışma Derneği) published a monitoring report focusing on the proposed amendments to Articles 24 and 41 of the Constitution through an analysis of media coverage and the minutes of the Constitutional Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Colorful Hopes Association (Rengarenk Umutlar Derneği) celebrated the commencing of the workshops for the 2023-2024 period and the World Peace Day on September 1 with activities for children living in Sur and actively participating in the association’s workshops.
Rosa Women’s Association (Rosa Kadın Derneği) held its congress on the 5th of October saying “Li hemberê tûndîya li ser jinê, jin tekoşînê dihûnin” and elected a new board. Suzan İşbilen was elected as the new president. Also, board member lawyer Berfin Polat gave an interview to JINNEWS. In the interview, she mentioned that the number of women who are dying suspiciously is increasing day by day and that they are determined to continue the women’s struggle against this issue.
Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (Sosyal Politika, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği, SPoD), on the 15th of September, called on all political parties and democratic public to condemn and stand in solidarity with LGBTI+s in the public sphere against the hate rally targeting LGBTI+s at Istanbul Saraçhane Park which was held on the 17th of September 2023 at 15:00.
Sulukule Volunteers Association (Sulukule Gönüllüleri Derneği) completed its volunteer orientation with the new term volunteers on 14th and 15th of October.
Tahir Elçi Foundation (Tahir Elçi Vakfı) completed the “Online Information and Experience Sharing Seminars on Defending Freedom of Religion, Thought, and Expression” on the 14th and 15th of October.
Yayla (Gola) Culture, Arts, and Ecology Association (Yayla Gola Kültür Sanat ve Ekoloji Derneği) organized the second edition of KitapLook: Conversations with Authors with the participation of Nuriye Günaydın, the author of Xaticena, the first female novel in Laz, on the 8th of September. On the 29th of September, the association screened the short film “The Coast That Is No Longer There” and held a talk at Turan Bulak Culture and Art Center (Rize). Gola continues its podcast series From the Local. The episodes focus on being a civil society member, being a young person settling in a local area, being a bird watcher, and being a writer in one’s mother tongue. The seventh and last of the Gender Equality Talks organized within the scope of the “A Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality” project implemented by UN Women with the financial support of the EU was held on the 30th of September 30. Its theme was “What the climate asks us to see: How are women affected by the Climate Change?”. GOLA Culture, Arts, and Ecology Association and Şifa Heybesi organized in Arhavi the first and only “International Millet Year 2023” event in Turkey on the 17th of September.
Highlights From Networks
On October 24, LGBTIQ+ organizations, activists, and community members in the West Asia and North Africa region issued a joint statement condemning the attack on Gaza.
We Want to Live Together Initiative (Birlikte Yaşamak İstiyoruz İnisiyatifi), on the 7th of September, made public an open letter on the issue of Removal Centers, saying “We must urgently take action against racism and hostility against migrants” and called for solidarity with migrants.
Diyarbakır Urban Protection and Solidarity Platform (Diyarbakır Kent Koruma ve Dayanışma Platformu) made a public statement demanding the inclusion of the Diyarbakır Castle and Hevsel Gardens—which are listed in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List—in the “List of World Heritage in Danger”.
Child's Rights Based Crisis Management Network (Çocuk Hakları Odaklı Kriz Yönetim Ağı) shared the information note titled “February 17-July 1, 2023, Adıyaman Field, Child Studies”.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Platform (Cinsel Sağlık ve Üreme Sağlığı Hakları Platform, CİSÜ) made public the information note titled “Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Disasters” on the 13th of September. It also shared its September bulletin, July-August bulletin, and Earthquake bulletin in the past two months.
Deep Poverty Network (Derin Yoksulluk Ağı) with the support of ETKİNİZ, published a translation of “Lessons from the Chilian Earthquake: How a Human Rights Framework Facilitates Disaster Response”.
Following the “Solidarity Together” meetings they organized after the February 6 earthquakes, theChecks and Balances Network (Denge ve Denetleme Ağı) brought together civil society organizations in Ankara and held a workshop titled “Disaster Resilient Cities and Civil Society”. During the meeting, the outputs of the “Civil Society in Disasters” report were shared.
Constitution for All of Us Coordination (Hepimiz İçin Anayasa Koordinasyonu) was established by feminist and LGBTI+ organizations with the motto “We are not letting go of each other’s hands! We are not leaving any of us behind!”. On the 10th of October, the coordination made a call to the whole society and opposition in general, saying “We see the truth! We say NO to the constitutional amendment!”.
Stop Racism and Nationalism Platform, IHD Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Platform (Irkçılığa ve Milliyetçiliğe Dur De Platformu, İHD Irkçılık ve Ayrımcılık Karşıtı Platform)and journalists, writers, academics and human rights defenders made a joint public statement on the 100th anniversary of the Republic, saying “We are whomever you have excluded in the 100th year”.
Solidarity Network for Human Rights Defenders (İnsan Hakları Savunucuları Dayanışma Ağı , İHSDA) published the news from the network, the threats human rights defenders faced in August 2023, and the developments from the field in its September newsletter.
Freedom of Belief Initiative (İnanç Özgürlüğü Girişimi) published the report “Hate Crimes Based on Religion, Belief or Non-Belief in Turkey 2022”, which aims to contribute to the prevention of hate crimes and the combat against impunity.
The Women's Coalition-Disaster Coordination Network (Kadın Koalisyonu-Afet Koordinasyon Ağı) published its September newsletter. It also made a public statement about the 100th anniversary of the Republic.
Political Well-being Platform (Politikada İyilik Hali Platformu) listed a number of factors that facilitate and complicate alliances and partnerships. It also shared the September video of their newsletter titled “Arada Kaynamasın”.
Right to Clean Air Platform (Temiz Hava Hakkı Platformu) completed the asbestos survey they carried out together with Turkish Medical Association in the earthquake zones and announced the results at a press conference held on the 27th of October. Asbestos was detected in Kahramanmaraş—in the city center and in the Elbistan district—and in Adıyaman.
