Today is March 8th, International Women’s Day.

After taking a look at last year’s blog post on International Women’s Day, I regret to see that the major problems I mentioned a year ago still continue, even in an augmented manner. Although society’s awareness on “violence against women” is increasing, we still have a long way to go. Today, half of our 70-million population are women. Naturally, it is impossible for a society to improve by developing only one half and neglecting the other. Especially if the neglected half is the most important actor in raising the children, i.e. our future, such improvement becomes even harder. Therefore, we need to take steps that truly create value and benefit. And we need to do it not only as individuals, but also as corporations.

Sustainability is a key component that makes Siemens what it is. We attach great importance to benefiting from innovative ideas created through diverse cultures and mindsets in all of our corporate principles and operations. Today, in parallel with the extraordinary increase in the means of communication, we are facing more severe problems that need to be solved. One of the problems to be solved is finding ways to expand and reinforce women representation in the business world. We, as Siemens Turkey, are proud to have an active “Diversity Council” that shares the same goal. We have also been one of the first companies to sign the “Business Against Domestic Violence Policy Development and Implementation Guide” in Turkey. But is that enough? Of course not. We pay attention to every initiative in this regard and we will continue our efforts to create a difference.

On this year’s March 8th we wanted to make an announcement that is really meaningful to us. As a technology and engineering company, we attach great importance to increasing the number of female engineers. Therefore, we are launching a scholarship program with Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), with whom we have cooperated in various projects so far. Within the scope of this program, we make donations to meet year-long educational expenses of young women studying engineering to get a BSc or MSc degree. Success should be supported and we are determined to contribute to increasing the number of successful female engineers.

International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s labor, freedom, and the value they generate for life itself. We are more than happy to celebrate this day with an announcement that focuses on social contribution. Happy International Women’s Day!

Today is 8 March, International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in Turkey since 1921. However, when we think about what is really going on, the reality is: “A smile in one eye and a teardrop in the other!” I am writing a message of celebration right now but what I think about are the painful incidents that happen to the women every day in our country… It is impossible for me to write this message without mentioning them.

On one hand, we say that the Turkish women should participate in every field of life and that is how the Turkish economy will grow and progress. However, on the other hand, we build barriers against the women. As a society, we don’t protect them and we don’t treat them equally; on the contrary, we hurt women and hinder them at many occasions. The devastating murder of Özgecan Aslan and incidents of violence against women one after another prove the difficulties of being a woman. Such incidents reveal that our country has a long way to go.

Despite these difficulties and inequalities, our women fearlessly study, have careers, advance in the business life by manifesting their identities with a great determination.

So, what is our responsibility here? In order to take the “woman identity” to its rightful place, it our responsibility to continue initiatives to achieve equality of woman-man and to support gender equality even more strongly. I believe that we should celebrate this day by taking the responsibility.

Taking the opportunity, I celebrate the International Women’s Day of all women, in the hope of a future where women live freely and equally.

In my postdated 25 July 2014, I had given statistical information on femicides and stated my anger on this issue. Let me remind you my words: “There is not a single week, or even a day, that a woman is not abused and killed in our country. 139 women were killed in the first 6 months of 2014.” (Where are the authorities as women get killed?) Unfortunately, the situation is even worse today. And my sadness grows, as does my anger. We, as a society, have to solve this problem. But how?

As in every problem, the first step to solution is education. I don’t mean formal education. The starting point should be the family training and perception created within the family. Once we consider, evaluate and thus value “boys” differently from “girls”, unfortunately we cause the problem to become deeper and deeper. As parents or adults, we have to teach children that people cannot be treated differently because of their gender or other qualities. If we can succeed in this training within the family and if our children see the same perspective at school, we can overcome this problem. However, this is medium and long-term solution. How about the short-term? Shall we let this go on as it is? Of course not. Here, I would like to reshare my blog post of 25 July:

“I’m angry. There is not a single week, or even a day, that a woman is not abused and killed in our country. 139 women were killed in the first 6 months of 2014.

The number of women killed by men was 18 in June alone.

I’m angry because families, friends, neighbors, in short, the society neither show any interest in this issue nor react to even the slightest suspicion of violence against women. Nowhere in the world can we expect or hope for any government to solve all problems. The solution to such problems should come from us as responsible individuals. Those who do not take action risk ill-treatment to their daughters, sisters, mothers, or spouses as well. There are, of course, more important and urgent issues in our country and in the world, but this is also critical. As members of this society, we act as if we are not responsible for this situation and say, “I have my own problems, what can I do?” Yet this is the problem of all of us. We must act.

It would be horrible for people in our country to get used to this, as if it is normal or not important. Sometimes just a phone call pays off, please let’s be responsible:

183 – (Social Services Hotline for Family, Women, Children, and Disabled)

Domestic Violence Emergency Hotline – 0212 656 96 96”

What else can we do? We can speak up. Let’s support the initiatives on this issue and say it loud on every occasion that every human being has the same right to live. It is the duty of all of us to get erase this shame.

I’m angry. There is not a single week, or even a day, that a woman is not abused and killed in our country. 139 women were killed in the first 6 months of 2014.

The number of women killed by men was 18 in June alone.

I’m angry because families, friends, neighbors, in short, the society neither show any interest in this issue nor react to even the slightest suspicion of violence against women. Nowhere in the world can we expect or hope for any government to solve all problems. The solution to such problems should come from us as responsible individuals. Those who do not take action risk ill-treatment to their daughters, sisters, mothers, or spouses as well. There are, of course, more important and urgent issues in our country and in the world, but this is also critical. As members of this society, we act as if we are not responsible for this situation and say, “I have my own problems, what can I do?” Yet this is the problem of all of us. We must act.

It would be horrible for people in our country to get used to this, as if it is normal or not important. Sometimes just a phone call pays off, please let’s be responsible:

183 – (Social Services Hotline for Family, Women, Children, and Disabled)
Domestic Violence Emergency Hotline – 0212 656 96 96