Kamer: A Prominent Example of Local Women’s Organisation in Turkey
摘要
The literature on the women’s movement in Turkey shows that studies were predominantly conducted in the western region of the country until the 1990s. Women’s Centre Education Production Consultation and Solidarity Foundation (KAMER), which had previously been a modest women’s collective, was officially established in Diyarbakır in 1997 and thus began its work on combating violence against women with the contribution of the local community. The core principles of KAMER’s work are based on the centrality of women’s experiences and the promotion of empowerment, in line with feminist social work principles. KAMER, founded by local women, represents an important case study in the development of grassroots organisations in Turkey based on the women’s movement with its work based on local dynamics. Therefore, it has also been the subject of numerous academic studies. The chapter begins with a brief summary of the development of the women’s movement in Turkey, followed by an evaluation of KAMER. It then analyses the results of focus group interviews with representatives of the KAMER Foundation and applicants of its services. In this study, KAMER is examined as an example of good practice in terms of the methodology it has developed and the organisational structure it has established using local knowledge.