About Us

The Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence (CŞMD) was founded in 2014 by activists coming together from different movements to struggle against sexual and sexualized violence. Today, with 12 years of experience, the association is one of the leading feminist organizations in Türkiye focusing on sexual violence.

Its work in the areas of support, prevention, and advocacy aims to make sexual violence more visible and discussable; to transform perceptions and narratives around sexual violence; and to bring its less visible forms into public awareness.

Its activities include organizing awareness-raising campaigns and conducting policy advocacy, producing informative content, strengthening the capacities of professionals, and providing support and referral services for survivors of sexual violence.

The association challenges myths about sexual violence and victim-blaming attitudes, and works to promote a culture of consent. It supports all survivors in accessing their rights and advocates for an inclusive and collective struggle that addresses all forms of sexual violence without establishing a hierarchy among them.

Activities

CŞMD’s Approach to Sexual Violence 

• Rather than a mercifying, victimizing, judging, and embarrassing social language, it embraces and advocates for an empowering, solidarity-promoting, and rights-based language and approach, while addressing the survivors of sexual violence. It combats the social perception blaming the survivor of violence and acquits the perpetrator. 
• It works to make the forms of sexual violence that are less visible in society, to be visible and does not establish hierarchy between different forms of sexual violence.  
• It adopts the idea that each individual may be the subject or the survivor of violence. It does not use a language that marginalizes or alienates sexual violence; it does not polarize persons as “we” and “they”.  
• It emphasizes the importance of individual transformation in the combat against sexual violence and advocates for “Change Starts with Me”.  
• CŞMD does not aestheticize violence, does not reproduce it, and it avoids consuming it.

Our Non-Negotiable Core Values

• Acknowledging that anyone can be a survivor and/or a perpetrator of sexual violence 
• Recognizing children and young adults as holders of sexual rights 
• Using empowering language and approaches 
• Seeking transformative solutions rather than relying solely on punishment 
• Promoting restorative and healing justice

What We Achieved in 10 Years

• Being a Pioneer
• Field Expertise and Reliability
• Original and Empowering Content
• Effective Communication with Youth
• Commitment to Intersectionality and Inclusivity
• Experience in Networks, Advocacy, and Campaigns
• Leveraging the Power of Media
• Horizontal Organizational Structure
• Resilience to Crises

Our Slogans

Sexual violence is everyone’s issue!
Sexual violence is learned — therefore it can be prevented.
Comprehensive sexuality education is a right!
Change starts with me!