By Sarah Collins - 5th March 2008
Turkish minister for women's rights Nimet Cubukcu said that Turkey has shown “great determination” to reform its laws during pre-accession negotiations with the EU.
Speaking in advance of UN women's day, Cubukcu said on Wednesday that “there are a lot of laws which have been reformed in Turkey recently. We need to adapt our legislation to community acquis and all reforms involved”.
European parliament rapporteur on Turkey Emine Bozkurt welcomed the pace at which the country has been reforming.
“At the last election campaign in Turkey, prime minister Erdogan said the headscarf issue would not be a priority issue. It proves that reforms in Turkey can go very fast if the government is committed to it."
A ban on wearing headscarves to university was lifted in February, causing controversy because it marked a change in Turkey's strict separation of church and state. Some universities have turned students away for wearing the scarf, and the Turkish opposition party has said it is taking the decision to the constitutional court.
But Bozkurt thinks there is still a way to go. “The women of Turkey do not yet benefit from Turkey's success.”
The first draft of a new constitution being negotiated in Turkey was, according to Bozkurt, “problematic for women”. The Dutch Socialist hopes future drafts will be more accommodating.
“I hope a new draft will come soon. It has been silent for a while. I hope it will be a big reform and not minor changes.”
Cubukcu is upbeat, though, about what Turkey can achieve.
“The laws have changed so radically in Turkey,” she told journalists. “Our society has become more democratic in general. In 2002, certain rights were not on the agenda, but today the situation has changed.
“The whole process of Turkey's accession to the EU is a priority for government and also enjoys support from the opposition. It's a shared objective.”
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