APPROACH
Dogan Holding is committed to continuing this campaign and plans to expand it further in order to reduce domestic violence in Turkey. The campaign works to help victims of domestic violence, educate all stakeholders, create awareness, and improve the legal framework through calls to its domestic violence hotline. The hotline serves not only as a line of support, but also as a medium for training its callers on their rights and the resources available to them. Dogan Holdings will expand their campaign in two additional ways: 1) increasing their social media presence in order to reach their main demographic, young women; and 2) strengthening their website, making it a robust educational resource on the topic of abuse and a support platform for victims. Another implementation commitment for 2014 is to help UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Turkey build 19 new shelters for domestic violence victims.
ACTION PLAN
2014:
- Intense content sharing via current media channels, the campaign website and social media accounts; as well as interactive broadcasting.
- Weekly expert opinions and Q&As; online concerts and conversations; text message campaign (for donations).
- Promotion of increasing the number of women representative on different government levels in collaboration with Rightful Women's Platform
2014 Q2: Collaboration with Penti (a leading pantyhose manufacturer) on a campaign where celebrities design pantyhose and provide sales and communication support.
March 8, 2014: International Women's Day events, celebrity concerts, conference and workshop.
Distribution of campaign t-shirts geared towards young people.
Domestic violence is a common phenomenon across the world and Turkey is no exception. According to a report published by the Turkish Hacettepe University in 2009, more than 11 million women in Turkey have dealt with or are dealing with physical or sexual violence. Furthermore, a 2011 Human Rights Watch report highlighted many of the gaps in Turkey's legal system that allow these crimes to persist. While advocates have been making small strides in improving the legal framework to increase protection from domestic violence, there is still much to be done. Furthermore, many women face barriers to reporting instances of violence as they are often controlled by the very men that are abusing them or believe that there is nothing they can do to improve their situation.
In response to this rampant problem, in 2004, a subsidiary of Dogan Group, H?rriyet Daily, decided to implement an awareness raising campaign, educating the public on the issue of domestic violence as well as emphasizing the legal rights available to victims. Since then, the 'No More Domestic Violence' campaign has worked to help domestic violence victims, educate all stakeholders, create awareness, and improve the legal framework around this issue. The campaign has reached more than 50 cities, educating men, women, police, teachers, and imams, among other groups.
No More Domestic Violence is seeking financial resources for the cost of running the hotline, which is active 24/7, and for experts, specialists, and psychologists..
Dogan Group, which is the biggest media conglomerate of Turkey, can provide media support through all its affiliates. Hurriyet Daily can provide vast knowledge and know how from collected data throughout the years.
The group offers media coverage and media skills for the introduction of an international party.
