Turkey Republic Karşıyaka Municipal Human Rights Award / Award Ceremony

February 8th 2006
Izmir

Nazire Dedeman
Founder President of Umut Foundation
Speech Text

 

 

Dear Mayor,
Dear guests,

As the President of Umut Foundation, it makes me, my Foundation and all those who contributed proud to see that the works we have realized and are still carrying on to the benefit of the society approximately for 13 years have given its fruits and that all the great efforts made has found their compensation. I would like to thank you for being the basis of this proud.

Sir;
When we established Umut Foundation in 1993, our aim was to bring up our youth who are the safeguards of the future as democratic individuals who have adopted the rule of law, who are sensitive to environment and humanity, who prefer peaceful means in solving disagreements and who have an awareness of citizenship.

We must commit ourselves to go against violence and to inform each citizen of our society about the methods of reconciliations. Besides our other works to purify our society from violence, to draw attention to the damages of violence and to make our citizens sensitive on this matter, we have worked for long years on individual disarmament which is the extreme point of violence and we will continue to work fearlessly until this problem gets resolved.

Because; if in average 3000 people in a country lose their lives in a year due to accident, murder and suicide caused by firearm weapons; if in average 700 people lose their lives in a year due to a stray bullet and in an event called an “accident”; then there is an “INDIVIDUAL ARMAMENT” problem in that society. There is an individual armament problem if in a society a high school student, a 9 year old child and many more, scientists whom effort and value has been spent, doctors, engineers, executives, teacher candidates ,expectant mothers, future fathers, small innocent children who aren’t event at the age of knowing these concepts are being the target of a stray bullet in the best day of their lives in marriages, matches, sendoff of a soldier or in the streets.
 
It is declared by official authorities that crime rates have increased in Turkey. In a social environment where crime rates are penetrating, it is known that individual licensed/unlicensed weapons are used often in crimes committed against life and property. By the year 2003, the number of weapons carried or held with a license is 1,954,303 in total, in other word two million. It is expressed by experts that the number of unlicensed weapons is around five million and seven million in total.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that; each armed person is a potential murderer, so each disarmed person is a potential slain and its relatives are potential victims. So the number of potential murderers, slain and victims is not little at all in a society where firearms are so widespread and used jauntily.

Moreover, this situation is a very serious and fatal problem that can’t be reduced to simple terms as “stray bullet” or “hooligan bullet”. Although these terms are attracting our attentions from the press, and are even humiliating the people who use weapons, it is emptying the inner of the concept and is externalizing the people who own weapons from being our neighbor. The only concept that will internalize this problem is “INDIVIDUAL ARMAMENT”. In our country, the youth, the kids, Ayşe’s, Ali’s and adults are dying because of “INDIVIDUAL ARMAMENT”, not because of “hooligan bullet or stray bullet”.

 “Individual Disarmament” is extremely important; because violence starts in an individual, continues in the family, becomes strong in school and is spreading gradually to the society. Our citizens must accept that the sole function of weapons is killing; not a mean of strength, prestige, showing off and being accepted.

We know that human dignity can be protected only if the state of law is adopted, the law is protected, justice is trusted and if peace culture and reconciliation awareness is assimilated.


“Individual Disarmament” is extremely important; because the weapon is violating “the right to life” and “the right of life” is the major human right.

It mustn’t be forgotten that; life is not as cheap to be ended by the muzzle of a weapon…However every kind of dignity corruption happens in a society where life is so cheap. But I believe that there isn’t any unsolvable problem in a country where a strong civil society is present and where different parts of the society can join forces.

Everyone’s dream is to live in a democratic country where the faith to justice and judiciary is complete, the citizen consciousness is settled, the rule of law is superior, and the peace culture is adopted. It is impossible to talk about the existence of individual armament problem in democratic countries and it is impossible to talk about democracy in countries where individual disarmament problem is not resolved. In our country, it is everyone’s duty to resolve the individual armament problem in order to settle democracy. With this belief, as Umut Foundation, we are continuing our works about individual disarmament aiming at its solution for years.

As Umut Foundation, we have realized the Searching Meeting which is called “Individual Armament Problems in Turkey: Solution Proposals” in 24 September 2005 in order to find solution proposals against individual armament problems in our society. In the light of the intensive works made for years, experts and scientists who participated to the searching meeting have looked for an answer to the question “what should be done to resolve the individual armament problem in our country” as a result of an intensive work. Firstly shared with the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the public opinion, we have sent the Final Declaration and its Report called “Individual Armament Problems in Turkey: Solution Proposals”, which is constituted of the answers to this question, to competent authorities of our country. I should state from here that Umut Foundation will be the follower of the implementation of the proposals. 

Individual armament is one of the serious social problems of our country and the right to life of our citizens is under the threat of firearm weapons.

For this reason, whether for me whether for our Foundation, it is a big honor that the works we are still carrying on with a big faith and effort for the society are seen prize worthy by local governments, especially in “Human Rights”. In the presence of Izmir Karşıyaka Mayor Dear Cevat Durak, I would like to thank the Karşıyaka Municipal Assembly Culture Commission, all the Karşıyaka and Izmir habitants for honoring us.

With the wish of a country where citizen consciousness is settled, in which it is noticed that individual armament is a serious problem and a country saying “No to Individual Armament”….
For futures full of hope