Gender Discrimination Is Unacceptable!

GENDER DISCRIMINATION IS UNACCEPTABLE!

Reports that a concert open exclusively to female audience members is to be held at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra concert halls have been met with great concern on our part.

Such a practice constitutes gender discrimination contrary to the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and to international human rights conventions.

Under the equality principle of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, the state may not discriminate on any grounds, including gender.

Accordingly, admitting only female audience members — by excluding male audience members — is regarded as a practice contrary to the principle of equality.

Furthermore, discrimination on the basis of gender is prohibited under the Turkish Penal Code and international human rights conventions.

Such an event, by barring the participation of men, would be considered a discriminatory practice.

Beyond all of this, cultural services provided or mediated by public institutions must be offered to everyone on an equal basis.

Excluding a particular gender from a concert or event will be put forward as a violation of the principle of equal access to public services.

We believe that cultural events must be provided equally and fairly within the constitutional order, without gender discrimination.

Defining an audience on the basis of gender creates discrimination, and this is unacceptable.

On this occasion, we call on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to refrain from such discriminatory practices and to organise all events with an inclusive and egalitarian approach.

We once again emphasise that every segment of society has an equal right of access to art and culture.

Kültür Emekçileri Sendikası