| | | | Set to come into effect on 1 January 2002, the amended civil code now establishes under law the equality of men and women in the family and society.
One of the fundamental changes included in the 1030 amendments to the civil code sees the removal of the clause that defines the man as the head of the family, giving equal status to the woman. By this change, a wife now has the right to represent the family in legal matters, does not have to obtain her husband’s permission to enter the workforce and has the equal rights as her spouse to decide where the family shall live. All were previously the husband’s domain.
The laws governing divorce too have been changed, with women now entitled to an equal share of the assets accumulated during the time of the marriage. Previously, in the event a marriage ended in divorce, a woman was only entitled to property legally registered in her name.
Turkey’s Justice Minister, speaking after the bill was passed, heralded the reforms.
“Turkey at the start of the 21st century has renewed the great legal reform it achieved in 1926,” he said.
In other areas, the new code raises the legal age for marriage to 18 from 17 for men and 15 for women. It also requires spouses to be legally separated for six months before a divorce filing.
for cohabiting families.
| |
