A MEANINGFUL EVENT HELD BY GAU ON 8 MARCH - WORLD WOMEN’S DAY

Girne American University screened a documentary entitled “Women of Struggle” prepared by the Chair of TRNC Foreign Press Association Journalist/Author - Arslan Mengüç for the 8th March World Women’s Day.

GAU CEO and Vice-Chancellor of Board of Administrators - Assist. Prof. Dr. Asım Vehbi stated in his speech, held in the GAU Spectrum International Congress Hall, that as GAU they stand to support campaigns held with regard to violence against women and that 8th of March must not only contribute to remember women once a year but to initiate discussions on finding solutions to the problems faced by women. Vehbi underlined that the total of support associations and clubs established since 1960 is 11 and that initially women’s right to vote was in act in 1960. The right of education and enfranchisement of women in those years have supported the possibility of women to hold posts in institutional field professions but nevertheless this has not evolved the equality of women both in social and economic terms.

Vehbi also underlined that before the late1970s there was no legal act towards the principal of “equal salary for equal job” and emphasized that since 1977 women were not equally paid with their teacher colleagues in higher education.

Vehbi stressed that today Turkish Cypriot women are much more highly ranked in the higher education level compared to the global ratios and that there are a considerable number in the fields of business, entrepreneurship and management and this number is increasing day by day. Vehbi stated that the female population in the world is 49.7% and that the majority of crimes of murder of women are conducted by either their husbands or lovers. Furthermore 1 in every 3 women encounter violence, 1 in every 5 women either encounter sexual assault or attempt of sexual assault and in addition to this more than 135 million women in the African continent are circumcised and 1 in every 2 women in the Arab world are illiterate. In addition to this Vehbi stated that 75% of the employees in the health sector of the world are women, the mortality risk of a pregnant woman in Africa is 180 times more than one in Western Europe and that 70% of the 1.2 trillion absolute poverty faced in the world is experienced by women.

Vehbi stated further in his speech that only 33% of university graduates are women and although women carry out 66% of the duties they only possess 1% of properties in the world.

Vehibe Özkasırga, the first chief of a village and a significant contributor to the documentary of “Women of Struggle” performed a poem concert during the event night.

A speech was given by Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK) new Director - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neriman Saygılı. Saygılı stated that women, both in the years of struggle and independence, were accustomed to a significant level of struggle understanding. Saygılı also underlined that women also experienced constraints during the war-free period and emphasized that recent media is mostly busy with news about violence against women. Saygılı stressed that the media is utilizing violence on women to increase ratings and thus forming a miserable perception on women. Although there is no war in some parts of the world, stated Saygılı, there is inequality against women and furthermore there is also inequality during the raising of a child according to their gender by allowing a boy to be much more free and a girl to be limited in certain aspects. Saygılı emphasized that the apparent physical difference between men and women must not be assumed with thought and ideas. Saygılı referred to the must of alternating the education format in order to dismiss the inequality formed amongst men and women and thus cooperate with institutions like Ministry of National Education and within families and non-governmental organizations through a more contemporary standpoint in education with the union of men and women

Furthermore in her speech Saygılı stated that not only are there economic and political threats for the community in the near future but also the community is forced into loneliness due to technology, despite its assisting power. Saygılı underlined that children nowadays usually prefer to play games based on violence and thus they are self-estranged and poor communicators with their own-selves. This was emphasized by Saygılı who said it brings up people who cannot manage and perceive, thus dismissing tranquility in the society for men, women and also children. Saygılı further emphasized that, therefore, education is a significant factor in this respect and that education must be well cared for from an early age.

GAU CEO and Vice-Chancellor of Board of Administrators - Assist. Prof. Dr. Asım Vehbi presented the Director of Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK) - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neriman Saygılı with a plaque of appreciation. Vahibe Özkasirga was also presented with a plaque of appreciation by the Chair of GAU Health, Culture and Sports - Türkay Akpınar. Nesrin Savaş - the wife of the Lieutenant General of Turkish Peace Forces - İsmail Serdar Savaş received a plaque of appreciation presented by Sevim Erdal - the wife of the Chair of GAU Board of Trustees Memduh Erdal.