Women Friendly Midyear Evaluation Meeting Held in Şanlıurfa

United NationsWomen FriendlyJoint Programme to Promote and Protect the Human Rights Women and Girls' UNJP NewsletterMidyear Evaluation Meeting Held in ÞanlýurfaThe United Nations Joint Programme 2007 Midyear Evaluation Meeting was heldin Þanlýurfa. The vast range of participants included representatives from the UnitedNations, high level officials from the Ministry of Interior, as well as representatives fromthe governor’s offices and municipalities of the Programme cities, NGOs, universitiesand the media.The United NationsExtended Thematic WorkingGroup gathered on May30, 2007 in Þanlýurfa’s El RuhaHotel to evaluate the JointProgramme to Protect and Promotethe Human Rights of Women andThe Sabancý Foundation isproviding funds through itsgrant scheme to the projectssupporting Local Equality ActionPlans prepared to create WomenFriendly Cities as part of UnitedNations Joint Programme onProtecting and Promoting theHuman Rights ofWomen and Girls(UNJP).Sabancý FoundationGeneral ManagerHüsnü Paçacýoðlu statedthat the three-year GrantScheme aims to supportthe creation ofWomen FriendlySabancý Foundation announces theprojects for Sabancý Grant SchemeThe Sabancý Foundation announced the projects toreceive grants as part of the United Nations JointProgramme. Eleven projects from six cities will receive104,000 USD.Cities in the six pilot cities where theJoint Programme is implemented,Ýzmir, Kars, Nevþehir, Þanlurfa,Trabzon and Van, and create a platformwhere local governments, localwomen’s NGOs and other institutionscan engage in cross-sectoralwork. Paçacýoðlu also commentedthat “30 projects will beimplemented within thisscheme,” and that“hopefully this newapproach by the SabancýFoundation will pioneerthe development of similargrant schemes inTurkey.”cont. on p. 3Girls. The meeting took place in twosessions. In the morning session, theprogramme partners evaluated thedevelopments regarding the programme,and reaffirmed their commitment.The afternoon session wasbasically the evaluation of the programme.The official six-monthreview report was distributed to theparticipants in this session. A finalsession included comments, recommendationsand requests by the participants.cont. on p. 2No:7 September 2007In this issueMidyear EvaluationMeeting Held inÞanlýurfa page 2---------------------Sabancý Foundationannounces the projectsfor Sabancý GrantScheme page 3---------------------Two-year review of theUN Joint Programmepage 4-5---------------------An exemplary initiativefrom Ýzmir page 4-5---------------------‘Pilot Workshop Van’:Improvement andRedesign of UrbanServices page 6---------------------‘Local Equality ActionPlans need to be morefar-reaching in Turkey’page 7An exemplaryinitiative from ÝzmirÝzmir Governor’s Officedecides to establish aUnited Nations Joint Programme(UNJP) ProvinceCoordination Council.Ýzmir Governor’s Office set anexample in deciding to establish aUnited Nations Joint Programme(UNJP) Province CoordinationCouncil, and allocate a member of thestaff to inform and direct the applicationsfor the Programme to the relatedunit. United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA) Assistant Representative forTurkey, Dr. Tunga Tüzer and UNJoint Programme Manager NevinÞenol sent letters to Ýzmir Governor M.Cahit Kýraç and Deputy GovernorHaluk Tunçsu, expressing their appreciationfor their support and contributionto the Programme, and for this pioneeringinitiative.cont. on p. 4-5

2Midyear Evaluation MeetingHeld in ÞanlýurfaThe United Nations Joint Programme 2007 MidyearEvaluation Meeting was held in Þanlýurfa. The vast range ofparticipants included representatives from the United Nations,high level officials from the Ministry of Interior, as well as representativesfrom the governor’s offices and municipalities ofthe Programme cities, NGOs, universities and the media.The Chair of the Board of Trusteesof Sabancý Foundation GülerSabancý congratulates the winnersfrom Þanlýurfa of the WomenFriendly City Essay Competitionamong high school students.The United Nations Extended GenderThematic Group gathered on May 30,2007 in Þanlýurfa’s El Ruha Hotel to evaluatethe United Nations Joint Programme to Protectand Promote the Human Rights of Women andGirls (UNJP).The meeting took place in two sessions. In the morningsession, the Programme partners talked about thedevelopments regarding the Programme, and reaffirmedtheir commitment. The afternoon sessionwas basically the evaluation of the Programme. Theofficial six-month review report was distributed tothe participants in this session. A final session includedcomments, recommendations and requests by theparticipants.United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) AssistantRepresentative for Turkey, Dr. Tunga Tüzer openedthe meeting, commenting that the United NationsJoint Programme was initiated with an inclusive andparticipatory approach, as opposed to the conventionaltop-down, centralized approach, adding thatthe main purpose of the Programme is to support thecreation of Women Friendly Cities. Dr. Tüzer alsosaid that the Joint Programme is supported by all ofthe United Nations agencies in Turkey, and that it isa pioneering programme in creating partnershipsamong civil society, bilaterals, public and private sectors.He asserted that the next step will be focusingon the Local Equality Action Plans and the establishmentof the Women Friendly Cities.The Chair of the Board of Trustees of SabancýFoundation Güler Sabancý said that the SabancýFoundation aims to “create Women Friendly Citiesthrough inclusion of women into decision makingmechanisms, designing models for provision ofwomen-friendly local services, capacity building inlocal governments and NGOS, and preparation ofaction plans.”Ministry of Interior UNJP National DirectorMustafa Çöðgün stated that the transparent and participatorystructure of the Joint Programme hasbecome an exemplary model, and that the Ministryof Interior will continue to support the Programme.Þanlýurfa Governor Yusuf Yavaþcan and ÞanlýurfaDeputy Mayor Fevzi Yücetepe also expressed theirfull conviction in the success of the Programme.The UN Joint Programme Manager Nevin Þenolinformed the partners on the progress of theProgramme in the afternoon session, and providedthe participants with a draft calendar for the comingsix months.Programme Consultant academic Deniz Altay madea presentation on the results and findings of theWomen Friendly City projects, implemented withuniversity students in Van. Ayþe Yüksel from SabancýUniversity also made a presentation on the series ofmeetings with high school teachers and universityacademics on raising awareness on gender equality,the ‘Purple Certificate Program’ for local high schoolteachers that took place in July 2007, and the‘National Symposium on Women and GenderStudies in the University.’ The final, Questions andAnswers session included comments, recommendationsand request by the participants. The vast rangeof participants included representatives from theUnited Nations, and representatives from the governor’soffices and municipalities of the Programmecities, NGOs, universities and the media.The vast range of participants included representativesfrom the United Nations, high levelofficials from the Ministry of Interior, as wellas representatives from the governor’soffices and municipalities of the Programmecities, NGOs, universities and the media.

3Sabancý Foundationgrantees announcedThe Sabancý Foundation announced the projects to receive grants aspart of the United Nations Joint Programme. Eleven projects from sixcities will receive 104,000 USD.The Sabancý Foundation is providing fundsthrough its grant scheme to the projectssupporting Local Equality Action Plansprepared to create Women Friendly Cities aspart of United Nations Joint Programme onProtecting and Promoting the Human Rights ofWomen and Girls (UNJP).Sabancý Foundation General Manager HüsnüPaçacýoðlu stated that the three-year GrantScheme aims to support the creation of WomenFriendly Cities in the six pilot cities where theJoint Programme is implemented, Ýzmir, Kars,Nevþehir, Þanlurfa, Trabzon and Van, and createa platform where local governments, localwomen’s NGOs and other institutions canengage in cross-sectoral work. Paçacýoðlu alsocommented that “30 projects will be implementedwithin this scheme,” and that “hopefully thisnew approach by the Sabancý Foundation willpioneer the development of similar grant schemesin Turkey.”Paçacýoðlu said that 104,000 USD will be providedto the eleven projects awarded with theSabancý Foundation grants. He commented that,“the local governments and NGOs in the sixProgramme cities have been working in cooperationfor the last two years, and have prepared theLocal Equality Action Plans and priorities accordingly.The project proposals that were awardedwith grants fell into one of the main focus areasof the Local Equality Action Plans, which arewomen’s participation in local decision making,urban services focusing on the needs of womenand girls, economic empowerment and employment,education and health services, migrationand poverty, change of mentality and awarenessraising.Paçacýoðlu said that, “The Sabancý Foundationgrants will support active participation in localgovernments, empowerment of women, andpromote social change and development,” andthat “the implementation of the selected projectsthrough cooperation between the local governmentsand the NGOs will ensure the sustainabilityand expansion of the projects in the future.”Sabancý Foundation General Manager Paçacýoðlualso expressed his appreciation to Joint Programpartners and thanked all United Nations agenciesworking in Turkey, the Ministry of Interior,Sabancý University, eight donor governments,local governments and NGOs in Turkey for theirfinancial support and assistance in developinglocal capacity, creating Local Equality ActionPlans and supporting projects which have been acrucial part of the grant scheme process..CITY PROJECT NAME PROJECT OWNERÝzmir To Start with Reading and Writing Ýzmir MunicipalityÝzmir Awareness Raising on Domestic Violence Among Men Aegean Women’s Support FoundationKars Municipality and NGO: Hand in Hand Kars MunicipalityKars Women in Local Decision MakingKars Governorship and Department for ProvincialAdministrationNevþehir Producing and Marketing Handicrafts Association for Cappadocia Women’s SolidarityÞanlýurfaThe Sabancý Foundation GrantScheme Programme Jury determinedthe winning projects upon athorough assessmentThe winning projects and granteesImprovement of The Right to Health for Seasonal Women andChild Workers through Mobile Health ServicesThe SabancýFoundation GeneralManager HüsnüPaçacýoðlu.Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of PublicHealthÞanlýurfa Awareness Raising on Domestic Violence Life House (Yaþamevi) Women’s Solidarity AssociationTrabzon Working Woman is Empowered Woman Association for Turkish Mothers, Trabzon BranchTrabzon To Support for Mothers of Blind Children Six Point Association for the Blind Trabzon BranchVan Towards Healthy and Conscious Generations Van Governor’s Office, Department of Community TrainingVan Developing Database for Women’s Counseling Center Van Women’s Association

4 5During the last decades, Turkey has been witnessingimportant achievements on women’s participationin every walk of life. Much progress hasbeen made in the past decade, particularly with the passageof key legislation to protect and promote the humanrights of women and girls. However, these reforms haveyet to be fully incorporated into daily lives of peoplewhere gender inequality remains a significant obstacle fordevelopment.Individual funds and United Nations (UN) agencieshave provided assistance to the projects to promotewomen’s rights, approaching the issue from many differentangles. By joining forces in this programme, the UNis able to provide involved local partners with a comprehensivepackage of support to address women’s rightsand protect women. The UN Reform demands that theUN agencies go beyond coordination and informationsharing to pool resources for joint programmes. By joiningboth financial resources and expertise, these programmesare able to provide the most effective means ofaddressing the many facets of specific development challenges.In addition, the UN Joint Programme is designedto articulate with other relevant individual agency programmesacross Turkey. The UN agencies have collectivelypledged to provide one-third of the financial supportnecessary to complete the Programme. Currently,United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UnitedNations Development Programme (UNDP), UnitedNations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United NationsRefugee Agency (UNHCR) and International LabourOrganization (ILO) have contributed to the Programme.The United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP) is specificallydesigned to incorporate funds not just from theUN agencies but also from bilateral donors and the privatesector. Bilateral donors have contributed significantlyto projects to improve gender equality in Turkey, particularlyin light of Turkey’s prospective European Union(EU) membership. The UN Joint Programme acts as avehicle for combining and rationalizing bilateral aid forgender equality and provides a platform for active partnershipsand dialogue between donors, the Governmentof Turkey, NGOs and other local stakeholders.The Programme is actively encouraging collaborationwith other women’s rights programmes, including EUand bilateral donor-funded programmes, municipal andNGO activities. The Programme envisions one-third offinancial support for the Programme to come from bilateraldonors. At present, embassies of Canada, Denmark,Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland andUnited Kingdom have financially contributed to theimplementation of the Programme, while the embassy ofFrance recently committed to become a bilateral donorfor the Programme as well.The UN Joint Programme is also designed to incorporatethe private sector into its activities. In recent years,corporate social responsibility has grown in Turkey. Bothmultinational corporations operating in Turkey and localcompanies are prioritizing investment in projects that promoteTurkey’s development. In preliminary discussionsduring the preparation of the Programme, UN agenciesprovided significant supportfor the Programme alongwith the private sector companies.The Programme isdesigned to incorporatelocal chambers of commerce,thereby engaging local level private support earlyon and encouraging investment in the Programme. It isenvisioned that the private sector will donate one-third ofthe financial support necessary to complete theProgramme. Since June 2006, the Sabancý Foundationhas been supporting the Programme with funds thatmake up one-third of the Programme budget. On March2007, Sabancý Foundation launched its grant scheme,designed to support locally owned Local Equality ActionPlans, prepared by local partners in the Programme citiesfor creating Women Friendly Cities. The grant schemewill continue for three years with a total budget of300,000 USD.While financial support for the Programme is comingfrom the UN, bilateral donors and the private sector, theProgramme also relies on local government support.Specifically, local governments are providing in kind supportand will help to fund implementation of the localaction plans, which are being developed as part of theProgramme. Capacity building activities are helping localgovernment officials develop their resource mobilizationskills as well as a strategy for fundraising activities to supportlocal action plans.The two-year UN Joint Programme is designed to,• address persistent gender inequalities by improving thenational policy environment,• build local government and NGO capacity,• design service models for women and girls, and• raise awareness about women and girls’ rights.The UN Joint Programme is being implemented by theUN, the Ministry of the Interior, Sabancý Foundation andAssociation for Training and Supporting WomenCandidates (KA-DER) Ankara. Sabancý University alsoprovides support for change of mentality and raisingawareness component of the Joint Programme.The Programme primarily targets national level decisionmakers as well as local government, NGOs and the generalpublic in six cities: Ýzmir, Kars, Nevþehir,Þanlýurfa, Trabzon and Van. The cities were chosenaccording to municipal readiness and capacityto participate in the Programme and perceivedneeds as expressed in preliminary city visits. Thesecities were selected to demonstrate how participatoryand coordinated cross-sectoral approachescan improve services, augment resource availabilityand improve the lives of girls and women in avariety of settings.The Programme cities were determined accordingto the eagerness and capacity of the local governments,as well as the needs verified during the visitsmade in the preparation stage. These cities wereselected to demonstrate how adopting a participatory,coordinated and cross-sectoral approach candevelop and diversify services, increase resourcesand improve the lives of women and girls.The UN Joint Programme is providing support forwomen and girls in the Programme cities to be ableto claim services from institutions responsible forservice provision. The Programme has identifiedthe needs of women and girls, engaged in capacitybuilding and facilitated stakeholders to prepareLocal Equality Action Plans (LEAPs), reflecting thepriorities of each city. The implementation of theLEAPs is also supported through the SabancýTwo-year review of the Joint ProgrammeThe United Nations Joint Programme Manager Nevin Þenol reviewed theJoint Programme since its kick off two years ago. Þenol summarized the developmentsand activities of the Joint Programme, as well as expectations for thefuture.Foundation grant scheme.By the end of the Programme, a scaling-up model atnational level will be in place and the six cities will beevaluated for certification as ‘Women Friendly Cities’based on commonly agreed upon criteria.The UN Joint Programme is designed to address theabove-mentioned development and gender equalitychallenges. At the end of an implementation period of 21months, the following results are achieved:- Four national meetings were held in March, June,December 2006 and May 2007, with the participation ofaround 1000 people, including high level representativesfrom the Ministry of Interior, the Chair of the Board ofTrustees of Sabancý Foundation, Güler Sabancý, governorsand mayors of the six Programme cities, representativesfrom donor embassies, Sabancý Foundation, KA-DER, as well as academics and representatives fromNGOs.- Nine stakeholder meetings were realized in the sixProgramme cities with the participation of high level localgovernment representatives including governors andmayor as well as local women’s NGOs. Hundreds ofparticipants were informed about the Programme.- Capacity enhancement trainings for local governmentrepresentatives on women friendly local services inProgramme cities were completed. 125 local governmentofficials in the six cities are now aware of theirAn exemplary initiative from ÝzmirÝzmir Governor’s Office decides to establisha United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP)Province Coordination Council.Ýzmir Governor’s Office set an example in deciding toestablish a United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP)Province Coordination Council, and allocate a memberof the staff, Züleyha Giritli, to inform and direct the applicationsto the related social services unit. United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA) Assistant Representative forTurkey, Dr. Tunga Tüzer and UN Joint ProgrammeManager Nevin Þenol sent letters to Ýzmir Governor M.Cahit Kýraç and Deputy Governor Haluk Tunçsu, expressingtheir appreciation for their support and contribution tothe Programme, and for this pioneering initiative. The firstmeeting of the Province Coordination Council (forWomen), took place on August 2, 2007 with Deputy MayorHaluk Tunçsu, responsible for the Joint Programme, as thechair.responsibilities in developingWomen FriendlyCities. They have prepared15 draft projects thatwere developed in detailduring the preparationstage of the Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs).- 60 local government officials have received ProjectCycle Management Training, and were granted withcertificates.- Capacity enhancement trainings for NGOs on womenfriendly local services in programme cities were completed.136 representatives of local women’s NGOs in thesix cities are now aware of their roles and responsibilitiesin the development of Women Friendly Cities. The participantsprepared 18 draft projects that were developedin detail during the preparation stage of the LEAPs.- 35 women from local women’s NGOs have receivedProject Cycle Management Trainings, and were grantedwith certificates.- Seven new women’s NGOs (Kars 2, Nevþehir 1,Þanlýurfa 1, Trabzon 1, Van 2) have emerged during theimplementation of the UNJP. The UNJP has also contributedto the revitalization of the existing local women’sNGOs.- Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs) are ready in the sixProgramme cities.They are prepared ina highly participatorymanner, reflecting thepriorities of all localstakeholders whichare governor’s offices,municipalities andlocal women’sNGOs. The LEAPsfocus mainly on sevenareas; women’s participationin local decision making, urban services, violenceagainst women, economic empowerment, educationand health services, migration and poverty, andchange of mentality and awareness raising. The very firststep towards the implementation of LEAPs wastaken by the Ýzmir Governor’s Office. An officialcoordination committee on gender equality wasestablished very recently. This committee consistsof members from the governor’s office, municipalityand women’s NGOs. The Izmir Governor’sOffice also appointed one of its staff as a genderfocal point which supposedly reflects their intentionto form a specific gender unit. In the same token,other governor’s offices and municipalities areplanning to establish similar bodies; furthermoresome are working on the allocation of even symbolicamount of budget for gender equality work intheir cities.- More than 100 project proposals have been preparedlocally in the 21-month implementation periodof the UNJP in the six Programme cities. Localauthorities and women’s NGOs actively took partin the preparation process and now looking forfunding opportunities to realize these projects.Trabzon and Wetzlar (Germany) municipalitiesjointly proposed a project, titled ‘Incorporation ofgender perspective to design and provision ofmunicipality services’ to the EU programme,Towns and Municipalities.- The UN Joint Programme launched an essaycompetition on 8 March 2007, InternationalWomen’s Day, open to all high school students in the sixProgramme cities. The competition recei-ved a great dealof interest. The winners of the competition in six citiesreceived computers, while runners up received camerasand MP3 players.- Sabancý University has provided support to the JointProgramme through holding a series of meetings to highschool teachers and academics in the six Programmecities. The university organized the two-day “PurpleCertificate Program” for 33 local high school teachersfrom the six cities in Sabancý University, Ýstanbul in July2007. The National Symposium on Women andGender Studies at the University was held the samemonth in Sabancý University as well. Academics from theuniversities of the six cities participated in the Symposium,sharing experiences on Women and Gender Studies.- An e-group was established to provide a platform forlocal women’s NGOs and women living in Programmecities to easily communicate with each other, to exchangeknowledge and to act together where required. The e-group has 125 members from 25 local NGOs.- As part of empowering women’s NGOs, 16 memberNGOs in need were equipped with computers, printersand internet services with the support of the UN JointProgramme.- A number of reading materials were prepared for bothtraining and awareness raising purposes. In this regard,five books, four booklets, five newsletters were issuedand distributed widely together with six brochures on theresults of opinion polls that was conducted at a very earlystage of the Programme. Two brochures concerning theactivities of the UNJP were also issued.- The Programme’s English web home page was createdat http://www.protectingwomen.org, while theTurkish web home page address is www.bmkadinhaklari.orgInformation on Programme activities are alsoavailable at the web pages of the six cities’ governor’soffices and municipalities.The UN Joint Programme is designed to address theabove mentioned development challenges. At the end ofthe two-year programme, the following results will beachieved:• Millions of citizens will be more aware of women’sand girls’ rights.• Local governments and NGOs will be stronger andmore knowledgeable about women’s and girl’s humanrights.• Citizens, community leaders, religious leaders, civilsociety and private sector in all cities will be activelyinvolved in gender issues.• Six 5-year local action plans will be in place.• Local activities will be accelerated, with priority givento shelters, creating jobs, vocational training and girls’education.• Political and financial commitment will be increased inlocal and national level.• The six cities will be evaluated for certification for theiractive role in promoting women’s and girl’s rights.

6Improvement and Redesign of Urban ServicesDr. Deniz Altay, an academic at Bilkent University’sLandscape Architecture and Urban Design department,and her students prepared a project on‘Improvement and Redesign of Urban Services’ forVan, a Women Friendly City.As part of the United NationsJoint Programme to Protect andPromote the Human Rights ofWomen and Girls (UNJP), participatoryworkshops took place in the sixProgramme cities to create LocalEquality Action Plans. One of themajor targets reached through theseplans is to establish a perspective ofgender equality in the provision ofurban services, make them widespread,establish it as an integral part ofthe local governments and urban services.One of the support projects of theUNJP, in line with this target tobecome a Women Friendly City is the‘Improvement and Redesign of UrbanServices.’ This support project aims towork in cooperation with local governmentsto engage in creatingwomen friendly locations.The Pilot Workshop Van recently tookplace with the participation of thirdyear students of Bilkent University’sLandscape Architecture and UrbanDesign department, as well as UNJPstaff, consultants and representativesfrom local governments, with an interactiveprogramme.During the preparation stage of thePilot Workshop Van, urban designprojects that propose urban locationswhere women would be more comfortable,safe, social, with equalopportunities, and that are sustainablewere generated. The premise was tobe able to design projects that would:- Incorporate academic perspectiveand technical expertise into the JointProgramme,- Make use of the creativity and innovativeapproach of the students,- Establish cooperation and coordinationof various agencies,- Bring to life principles that wouldfunction as the underlying principles ofwhat a Women Friendly City is, and- Generate gender-sensitive projects.The Workshop was completed intwo stages. The first stage took placein Bilkent University LandscapeArchitecture and Urban Designdepartment in Ankara on May 10,2007. The students were informedabout the UNJP and a review of thetrainings in the Programme cities wasgiven by the Ministry of Interior UNJPNational Director Mustafa Çöðgün,UNJP Manager Nevin Þenol, projectconsultants and Pilot Workshop Vanmanagers Dr. Deniz Altay and YýldýzTokman. The Workshop was moderatedby Bilkent University academics,Dr. Dilek Cindoðlu, Dr. Emine Ýncirlioðluand Dr. Tijen Sonkan, wherediscussions were facilitated among studentson Women Friendly Cities.The second stage took place in thepilot city Van on 26-28 May, 2007,with Dr. Deniz Altay and YýldýzTokman as facilitators, and 13 students,Van Deputy Mayor MahmutErgüç, Parks and Gardens DirectorNevzat Ýnanç, Transportation ServicesDirector Yusuf Coþar, Public WorksDeputy Director Hakan Özkök, ZelalÖzgökçe from Van Women’sAssociation, Beyhan Tunçekin fromMavigöl Women’s Association, YükselKaya from Sevgi Women’sAssociation and UNJP Van LocalFacilitator Ayþe Sargýn as participants.The interactive structure of theWorkshop facilitated the participantsto come up with two areas of projectimplementation. One of these was a‘park area’ that would be an answerthe lack of open leisure spaces in certainneighborhoods (specifically StateRailways Housing NeighborhoodPark). The other one was an ‘ArtsStreet,’ a street design for women tobe able to make use of the city centermore comfortably and easily.In the end of the Workshop, the twooutputs were the field analyses, whichincluded identification of the problems,taking photos, interviews, filming,etc., and preparation of the projectThe State Railways Housing Neighborhood Park.-C.Atak. E.DikerDr.Deniz Altayplans. Following the analyses, the studentsset the design principles for thetwo project areas and generated projectalternatives.Problems of women and urban problemsspecific to Van were the majorfocal points during the project planningstage. The geographic and climaticstructure of the city were otherareas of consideration. The projectteam designed four projects of differingscales in the two areas.The students began presenting theirproject proposals to a jury on May 28.These productive presentations weremade to a jury consisting of officialsfrom Van Municipality and representativesfrom local women’s NGOs, eachoffering different perspectives andcommentary.The project proposals prepared by thestudents offer detailed proposals forwomen to be able to use urban servicesmore, and for the cities to becomesafer places for women.Here is a list of some of the proposals:- Plans for handicrafts market andstand design,- Lighting projects for being able to usethe project areas more safely in thedark,- Proposals for a list of plants suitable tothe climate of the region, use of waterfor decorative purposes (ponds, fountains),- Designs attractive to children forencouraging women’s more frequentuse,- Proposals for floor covering thatwould enable easier and safer walking,and prevent icing,Pilot Workshop Van- Designs for closed locations for differentuses,- Locations for various activities,sports, leisure, and performances,- Aesthetic focus, conservation of historicaland traditional locations,- Economic solutions that are environment-friendlyand that make use oflocal material,- Alternative solutions with stairs, wallsand slopes, alternative roads,- Conservation projects that take intoconsideration the geographic structureof the region (i.e. streams, channels,hills, etc.).Pilot Workshop Van was a successfuland productive activity, showing theimportance of:- How short-term detailed solutionscan pioneer changes in long-termvision,- Discussing solutions to problemsthrough ready and concrete projectsamples, and- For young people to think about anequal society and develop ideasaccordingly.The Pilot Workshop Van ended witha speech made by Parks and GardensDirector Nevzat Ýnanç. Having commentedsome constructive criticism onand incorporating a local look at thedeveloped projects, Ýnanç said that theprojects could very well be implementedwith slight changes, andended the Workshop congratulatingthe young participants.Similar activities within the JointProgramme will assist in more extensiveimplementation of the Programmein the pilot cities.Bilkent University LandscapeArchitecture and Urban Design department,Course: Urban EnvironmentAnalysis (Dr. Deniz Altay) and thirdyear students: Emek Erdolu, OzanHatiboðlu, Emrah Anýk, ErgünÖzyörük, Can Atak, SinemUður,Asmin Kavas, Berrak Bakýþkan,Umut Özdemir, Medine Yýldýrým,Þölen Ünal, Jale Sarý, Engin Diker

7‘Local Equality Action Plans needto be more far-reaching in Turkey’The United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP) consultant YýldýzTokman evaluated the creation process of the Local Equality ActionPlans (LEAPs) and the Local Equality Service Provision Model..The Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs)are the road maps that constitute theframework of the local equality policiesfand incorporating equa-lity policies into administrativeapproaches of the local governments. That iswhy it was crucial that the LEAPs were preparedin a participatory process in the Programme cities,compliant with the targets of the UNJP. The mainobjective was to establish a continuously participatoryprocess throughout the preparation stage of theLEAPs.The process included the participation of local governments,local women’s NGOs, universities, representativesfrom local chambers of commerce,UNJP partners (United Nations, Ministry ofInterior’s Research and Studies Center, Associationfor Training and Supporting Women Candidates–KA-DER, and Sabancý Foundation), the UNJPconsultants and UNJP local facilitators.The LEAPs were prepared to:- Reflect local conditions that differentiate the cities,and include local problems and information specificto that city, both quantitatively and qualitatively,- Include a list of actions and activities for genderequality for each city,- Determine the local support for action areas andactivities,- Develop proposals for institutional restructuringspecific to the features of each city.Apart from establishing the LEAPs locally in the sixcities, it was crucial to create an administrativemodel in line with the basic principles of theLEAPS, that is realistic within the legislative boundaries,applicable and fit to reach all of the cities inTurkey in the futureThat was the premise behind preparing a DraftLEAP Framework that included the outputs andevaluations of the meetings that took place in the sixcities leading to the establishment of the LEAPs,and that could serve as a model. The generalstrategic policies serving the main objective weregrouped into seven categories on women’s problems,and the possible activities were listed underthese categories. The Draft LEAP Framework waspresented to the Programme partners in the partnersmeeting, incorporating their opinions.During its eight-month period of preparation, individualevaluation of the LEAPs for each city andtheir overall evaluation took place in each stage.The necessary changes were made in a participatoryapproach, for creating a common languageand a common approach, and preserving the localdynamics to enable the realization of the activities.The lobbying activities run by local facilitatorsserved very crucial in the preparation stage, inunderstanding the local dynamics and establishingcommunication. The realization of the LEAPsdepend on their ownership by local partners,approval by local assemblies, further developmentof cooperation between local governments andwomen’s NGOs, careful implementation of theLEAPs to establish transparency, continuity andsustainability.This, in turn, requires a new institutional structurefor administration and ownership of the realizationof the LEAPs, for monitoring, evaluation and coordination,and for the sustainability of the LEAPs.This new structure needs to include local women’sNGOs as active actors. A Local Equality ActionPlan Committee was proposed as such a structure.Primarily, local governments need to display politicaldecisiveness in supporting the LEAPS in thelocal assemblies, and establish the equality unitsproposed in the LEAPs in their own structures.These will be very crucial steps towards the implementationof the LEAPs.In this respect:1. The cooperation among institutions providinglocal services, in terms of roles and responsibilitiesset in the LEAPs, need to be more clear.2. The new service units proposed in the LEAPsneed to established, and/or existing units need to beallocated to these services.3. Local governments need to train service staffwho will adapt gender equality approach to theirwork.4. Social Services Province Directorates need to besupported, and present society centers and publictraining centers need to be more widespread andfunctional.5. Strategic plans need to be revised for equality,budget allocations need to be revised accordingly,women’s NGOs need to be included into the planningand implementation of provision of health,education and cultural services, and women needto be positioned as the major part of the targetgroup.6. Service provision needs to be implemented inline with the new service definitions, focusing onequality, set in the Prime Ministry Circular2006/17.Yýldýz Tokman participated in the ‘Women inLocal Politics’ trainings, given by KA-DER(Association for Training and SupportingWomen Candidates) under the UNJP, as anExpert Trainer and a member of KA-DER AnkaraExecutive Board.7. In order to increase women’s participation inlocal decision making, new avenues open towomen in the legislations for local governmentsneed to be put into use (inclusion into local assemblies,expert commissions, volunteer participation,women’s assemblies, etc.).8. An infrastructure for women’s NGOs to showinterest in urban problems need to be established.In order for the UNJP to reach its targets, women’sNGOs need to be supported as a primary focusgroup.In order for the local governments to perceive genderequality as an integral part of the provision ofthe public services they are responsible for, or simplyput, reach their target of becoming a WomenFriendly City, they need to perceive the LEAPs asroad maps, and realize the activities under theseroad maps.In order for the two-year substantial work donewithin the pioneering UNJP to catalyze socialchange and development, and that it becomes sustainable,following need to be done:1. The LEAPs within the UNJP need to be morefar-reaching, and established for other cities inTurkey. This, not only, will help achieving theUNJP’S targets on protecting and promoting thehuman rights of women and girls, but also assist inthe realization of the United Nations’ MillenniumYear Development Goals, the EU rules of action forlocal governments, European Union’s UrbanCriteria, as well as the strengthening of local governmentsand local democracy.2. The short-term LEAP activities in line with transformingthe pilot cities into Women Friendly Citieswithin the UNJP need to be supported, implementedand monitored.At least some of the projects proposed under thetitle of Urban Services in the UNJP needs to beimplemented with clear outcomes (e.g.Implementation of similar projects like the PilotWorkshop in Van in other cities).

8A ‘Joint’ ProgrammeThe United Nations Joint Programme to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of Women and Girls(UNJP) sets many firsts in Turkey. The Joint Programme is the embodiment of the reform process inprogress since 1997 by the UN. The Joint Programme is the cooperation and partnership of the UN, thegovernment, civil society and the public. The Joint Programme defines local partners (local governmentsand women's organizations) as basic actors that will transform all walks of life and establishwomen-friendly cities. Therefore, it aims to strengthen local governments and women's organizations.Our GoalsThe main goal of the Joint Programme is to supportthe creation of "women-friendly" cities. Thefollowing are our objectives to reach this goal:1. To create an environment (plans, programs,policies, legislation) facilitating the protectionand promotion of the rights of women and girls.2. To build the capacity of the NGOs active in theseareas in advocacy, project management, findingresources, effective cooperation with local governmentsand empowerment of women and girls.3. To build capacity in all non-governmentalorganizations and associations operating in thisfield to advocate gender equality, interact effectivelywith relevant agencies and organizations,and strengthen positions of women and girls.4. To raise awareness in public for the rights ofwomen and girls.What is a ‘women friendly city’?Why Six Cities ?In the programme preparation phase, adetailed and comprehensive study was heldto select cities. After evaluating many criteria,it was decided to implement the projectin Ýzmir, Kars, Nevþehir, Þanlýurfa, Trabzonand Van. The indicators of the StatePlanning Organization, eagerness of thelocal governments, premises where otherUN projects were being carried out, and thefinancial indictors were the major criteriain the selection of these provinces.Geographical diversity was another factoras well. The UN Joint Programme mainlytargets decision makers at the nationallevel, local decision makers in the sixprovinces, non-governmental organizationsand the public.These cities were selected to show howservices could be diversified and developed,how resources could be multiplied, andlives of women and girls could be improvedby adopting a participatory approach thatfocuses on coordination and inter-sectoralcooperation.While they make up the half of the city population,women’s participation in the local decision makingprocesses remains extremely low. Indeed women are natural partners of local administrators, andshould be consulted with in the planning and the management processes. City planning, traditionally, ishandled by men and women's needs are ignored. However, local decisions on housing, security, transport,education and health directly affect women. In such planning, premises which would bring togetherwomen, such as a childcare center for each quarter etc., are not considered. For example, the insufficientlighting on streets, insufficient public transportation, and poor safety of the vehicles are barriersto women enjoying their basic rights. Furthermore, shelters where women can resort when they are subjectedto violence, and hotlines through which they can contact authorities are elements that city planningshould not ignore. Women constitute one of the groups, least enjoying the cultural, sports andrecreation facilities of the cities.WE WANT TO CREATE WOMEN FRIENDLY CITIES, where women take active roles in planning, creationand daily life.By the "Women friendly City" slogan, we aim that everybody will enjoy the economic, social and politicalopportunities offered by the city equally.ProgramPartnersAll UN Agenciesoperatingin TurkeyMinistry of InteriorHacý Ömer Sabancý FoundationGovernor's Offices andMunicipalities ofÝzmir,Nevþehir,Kars,Þanlýurfa,Trabzon andVanBilateral DonorsCanadaDenmarkFinlandGermanyNorwaySwedenSwitzerlandUnited KingdomUnited Nations Joint Programme toProtect and Promote the Human Rights ofWomen and GirlsUNJP BulletinPublisherUnited Nations Joint ProgrammeEditorNezih TavlaþContributingNevin Þenol (Joint Programme Manager)Serhan Alemdar (Programme/ Finance Assistant)Local FacilitatorsÝZMÝR-Semra UlusoyKARS-Sibel Alp ArgunhanNEVÞEHÝR-Huriye KarabacakÞANLIURFA-Tülay YýlmazTRABZON-Sinem MýsýrlýoðluVAN-Ayþe SargýnAddressBirlik Mah. 2. Cad. No:11Çankaya -ANKARA-TURKEYTel: 312-454 11 85Fax: 312-496 14 85info@protectingwomen.orgWeb Pagewww.protectingwomen.org