STUDY Policy Department C Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs THE INCREASE IN KURDISH WOMEN COMMITTING SUICIDE WOMEN RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY JUNE 2007 PE 393.248 JANUARY 2004 EN i Directorate-General Internal Policies Policy Department C Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs THE INCREASE IN KURDISH WOMEN COMMITTING SUICIDE STUDY PE 393.248 ii This note was requested by: The European Parliament's committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. This paper is published in the following languages: EN, FR. Authors: Kurdish Human Rights Project, London Manuscript completed in June 2007 Copies can be obtained through: Ms Claire Genta Tel: +32 2 2832628 Fax: +32 2 2832365 E-mail:
[email protected] Informations on DG Ipol publications: http://www.ipolnet.ep.parl.union.eu/ipolnet/cms Brussels, European Parliament The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. iii Kurdish Human Rights Project European Parliament Project: The Increase in Kurdish Women Committing Suicide Final Report Contents Page Acknowledgments v Executive Summary vii Project Methodology ix Chapter One: 1 A Situational Analysis of Women in the Kurdish Regions of Turkey Introduction 1 1 Women in the Kurdish Regions of Turkey: A Historical Overview 1 1.1 The impact of the conflict: IDPs and gender marginalisation 1 1.2 The impact of state violence 4 1.3 The European Union accession process, the limited implementation of Turkey’s international