Women's Solidarity Against Deep Poverty

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu attended the first of the Equality Meetings initiated by the Urla Women's Solidarity Association. In the meeting, where the founder of the Deep Poverty Network and CHP Poverty Solidarity Office Coordinator Hacer Foggo was also a guest, what should be done for an equal life based on human rights and women's poverty were discussed.

The first of the “Equality” meetings, initiated by the Urla Women's Solidarity Association (URKAD) to produce solutions against discrimination, violence and women's poverty with a transcendent understanding of politics, was held in the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Urla Local Service Unit meeting hall. Speaking at the meeting where the founder of the Deep Poverty Network and CHP Poverty Solidarity Office Coordinator Hacer Foggo was also a guest, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu gave information about the work of the Metropolitan Municipality for women. Stating that they support the work of non-governmental organizations against all kinds of violence against women, Mustafa Özuslu stated that they stand by women's solidarity associations for Urla.

“The definition of poverty has changed”

Speaking at the meeting, which started with the presentation of URKAD President Saadet Kayaalp, journalist, writer and activist Hacer Foggo talked about the effects of poverty on women. Hacer Foggo said that the definition of poverty has changed during the pandemic period and is approaching the same level as the hunger limit, “In times of crisis, women are the administrators of this process. As they become impoverished, they establish new livelihood strategies. They tie bags to their babies instead of diapers and spend the day with soup. Women always go to social assistance applications. Because even if they get upset, they have to keep going until they get help for their children. "Women's poverty has tragic consequences in all areas, from violence to family nutrition," she said.

Emphasizing that the labor force participation rate is 70,3 percent for men and 32,8 percent for women, Hacer Foggo continued her words as follows: “According to the data of 2021, 3 million 650 thousand women in our country do not have a diploma from any institution and over 6 million women are illiterate. On the other hand, with the pandemic, birth control practices in family health centers were also removed. We are at a time when birth rates are at their highest level.”

Saying that Turkey's biggest problem is not taking measures to prevent poverty, Hacer Foggo invited everyone to contribute to the deep poverty, to fight against violence and inequality against women, both individually and through non-governmental organizations.