The representation of women in the NGOs

A villager rebellion occcurred in England at the end of 1370s and the leader of this rebellion said: ?FRIENDSHIP, AMITY, FELLOWSHIP MEANS THE LIFE. THE PLACE THAT THERE IS NO FRIENDSHIP, AMITY, FELLOWSHIP IS THE DEATH. THERE IS NO FELLOWSHIP OR FRIENDSHIP IN THE HELL. IN THE HELL THE HUMAN IS ALONE?.? (this definition is stil written on a wall in a church in London). This definition is the first known definition of civil society. The civil society means, the common work of the people, to do something together in relationship of the friends and to be volunteer. After 1370s, the civil society definition changed. Later on, civil society means to change positively and democratize the State.Since the foundation of the Republic, because of the anti-democratic, militer, male-dominated, inequal gender-based State, many NGOs have been closed down and have been shown as ?opposite of the State?. So in Turkey the ?organisation? issue is being afraid since many years. For example, after military coups, even the environmentalist organisations, citizen organisations, etc. were closed down and their members were detained. So recently the democratic society organisations took the name of ?Civil Society Institution?. Today the important issue for being an NGO is the independency from the States and the Governments. As they are independent from the politics, States and the Governments, this area is defined as ?third area?.Almost five thousand years, Human family witness gender inequality, that the women are ignored, women are subjected to all kinds of violence, women's labor is seemed as worthless, women are victims of serious human rights violations. Even in the countries that are governed by most modern methods, different forms of discrimination are applied against women. In Turkey in recent years because of gender inequality, status of women, fight against violence towards women, are now on a stage to achieve a more serious discussion. In particular, the existence of women civil society organizations took a more active position, women's studies give more weight, some of the political parties accepted quotas in favor of women and thus the women issue is being started to discuss morely and hereafter some realities aren?t hiding.In recent years, particularly women representation in politics has been taken up. Since in a society which organized in different areas (professional chambers, voluntary groups, trade unions, women organizations, foundations, associations, cooperatives, etc.) Non-Governmental Organizations, there is a need to focus on civil society and the representation of women at NGOs. Therefore, as the participation of women in Turkey in working life is the 125th among 130 countries and as in the field of gender equality the women are the 121st among 128 countries, these issues have to be analyzed in details in this thesis.There are many reasons those effect negatively the participation of women at the NGOs. Such as:- the reasons those prevent their candidacy (not take sufficient solidarity from their relatives and environment, aloneness in activities and work areas, etc. )- prejudice on women, not have enough evcouragement from the family or work side,etc.- the problems occur against women after the election on board,etc?So these are summarising many problems for women who want to participate at NGOs. Therefore, this thesis uphold the issue of civil society institutions and the status of women in the civil organisations.Keywords: Civil Society, NGO, Woman, Human Rights