Recent news from Turkey that the government is preparing to ban abortions beyond the first month of pregnancy was met with outrage from women’s and reproductive rights groups both within Turkey and beyond. A signature petition that began soon after the government’s announcement has received wide international support, and while the petition itself was sent to Prime Minister Erdogan on Tuesday, it is still possible for you to keep the pressure on the government by writing to the Prime Minister, or the Minister of Health, yourself. Here is a sample letter you can use to do so.
Below, CENI – Women’s Office for Peace have sent out this notice to thank all those who have supported the efforts so far:
“Dear Friends and Supporters
We want to thank you for your support in our campaign to Say No To Abortion Ban in Turkey. Our petition has reached:
more than 56.000 individuals from Turkey and dozens of countries, from people of different genders and sexual orientations, all kinds of different languages and religious beliefs;
From Turkey, signatures from 332 women’s organizations as well as 286 organizations, which include unions, various trade bodies ranging from medical chambers to bar associations, political parties, foundations for people with disabilities, artistic, environmental and cultural organizations, incorporating all the different segments of the society such as doctors, religious officials, teachers, social service workers, artists, students and many more;
Signatures from 211 organizations, across 49 different countries ranging from the U.S. to Germany, France, Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium, Australia, Netherlands, Mexico and the U.K.; from the Philippines to Nicaragua, India, Tanzania, Bolivia, Colombia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Congo; from Poland to Greece, Switzerland, Uruguay, Palestine, Argentina, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Bulgaria and Russia.
We will be sending the collected signatures to the Prime Minister, Minister of Health and Minister of Family and Social Policy of Turkey on Tuesday 19th June 2012 at 11.00 am via post after a press statement.
We want to share with you the news that the government already started to state that middle-way could be sought and they could limit the abortion by 8 weeks and not 4. However, this is still a backlash and we say that this is not acceptable! The existing legislation already allows women to have abortion until 10 weeks into pregnancy. Hence, we drafted our demands from the government and will also be announcing them the same day.
Your continuing support will strengthen our cause, and to this end, we drafted a sample urgent action text that you can find below. If you want to join in please send the attached statement via e-mail or fax to the Prime Minister, Minister of Health, and Minister of Family and Social Policies of Turkey:
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
E-mail: bimer@basbakanlik.gov.tr <mailto:bimer@basbakanlik.gov.tr> Fax: +90 0312 417 0476
Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Recep Akdag
E-mail: recep.akdag@tbmm.gov.tr <mailto:recep.akdag@tbmm.gov.tr> Fax: +90 0312 431 48 79
Minister of Family and Social Policies, Fatma Sahin
E-mail: fatma.sahin@tbmm.gov.tr <mailto:fatma.sahin@tbmm.gov.tr> Fax: +90 0312 422 55 55
IN SOLIDARITY!
____________________________________________________
CENÎ
Kurdisches Frauenbüro für Frieden e.V.
Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace
Corneliusstrasse 125
D- 40215 Düsseldorf
Germany
Tel.: 0049 (0)211 598 92 51
E-mail: ceni_frauen@gmx.de