Derya Ceylan/JINHA

WAN - Rojin Women's Life Center's sociologist Gülten Ceylan transmits the result of an annual survey of physical, psychological and economic violence and sexual abuse which women have faced in Van. Gülten pointed out that early marriage causes trauma on women and many problems that women have experienced result from early marriage.

Fight Violence against Women Unit of Rojin Women's Life Center did research about physical, psychological, economic and sociological problems which women have faced in the center of Van and its districts. Rojin Women's Life Center are reported the data which they obtained during the research. 218 women and seven children applied to Fight Violence against Women Unit in one year. Rojin Women's Life Center's sociologist Gülten Ceylan evaluated the reports.

Gülten said that %40 of women who applied to the Unit have been exposed to physical and psychological domestic and social violence. %20 of them have exposed to psychological violence, while %6 of them have exposed to economic violence and %5 of them have exposed to sexual abuse. Gülten also stated that these women are in the age range 25-29. "Half of the applicants weren't allowed to go school. They are illiterate. Women have been jailed in the homes due to gender roles of women. Women are deprived of their basic rights. Women are employed as unpaid workers in household chores.

"Women don't have economic freedom. They have to stay at home and their husbands can work. A woman, who doesn't have economic freedom, has to obey their husbands' rules. They don't have right to talk.

"Most of women married at an early age. "Early marriage causes trauma on women. As early marriage means violation of human rights, children's rights, it causes sexual abuse and sexual trauma."

Rojin Women's Life Center provides legal assistance to %20 women who applied to them. They also tell the women their legal rights.

(db/mg/gd)