Panel Report: Current Approaches to Combating Violence Against Women and the Role of the KADES App

Held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Üsküdar University’s South Campus, Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall, the panel titled “Current Practices in Combating Violence Against Women” served as a significant academic and public awareness event. The program focused on institutional cooperation, preventive mechanisms, and up-to-date practices in responding to violence against women. The panel was moderated by Prof. Dr. Feride Zeynep Güder and Dr. Faculty Member Melda Enginsu. Speakers included representatives from the Bureau for Combating Domestic and Violence Against Women, the Community Policing Bureau, and the Psychological Support Units of the Üsküdar District Governor’s Office.

Key Themes and Perspectives

Throughout the panel, violence against women was addressed as a multidimensional issue from legal, psychological, sociological, and law enforcement perspectives. The discussion highlighted how effective prevention and response depend on coordinated action across institutions, alongside mechanisms that intervene early and protect those at risk.

KADES as a Practical, Technology-Based Tool

A central focus of the panel was the Women Support Application, KADES, presented in detail as a current and functional tool that enables the effective use of technology in combating violence. KADES was described as an early-intervention mechanism that allows women to reach law enforcement quickly and directly in emergencies. Speakers emphasized its critical role in preventing violence, ensuring personal safety, and stopping harm from escalating. The app’s accessibility, ease of use, and real-world effectiveness were evaluated through concrete examples.

Law Enforcement Work That Includes Prevention and Protection

In presentations delivered by representatives of the Bureau for Combating Domestic and Violence Against Women, it was stressed that their work is not limited to intervention. It also follows a preventive, protective, and monitoring approach. In this context, risk assessments, victim-centered safety plans, procedures carried out under Law No. 6284, inter-institutional coordination, and data-driven follow-up mechanisms were discussed in depth. The speakers underlined that sustainable progress requires strong cooperation among law enforcement, local authorities, universities, and psychosocial support services.

A Holistic Response Through Awareness, Education, and Psychological Support

Representatives from the Community Policing Bureau and the Psychological Support Units of the Üsküdar District Governor’s Office emphasized that combating violence cannot rely only on legal sanctions. They argued for a holistic approach that combines social awareness, education, and psychological support. Topics included informational outreach to strengthen and empower women, post-trauma psychological support processes, and early identification of individuals at risk.

Overall Assessment and Conclusion

The panel’s overall framework reflected a clear, determined, and human-rights-based stance against violence toward women. A shared conclusion emerged: violence against women is not a private or individual matter, but a societal human rights violation. For that reason, it must be addressed through multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary, and continuous policies. Events that bring together academia, public institutions, and practitioners were assessed as making valuable contributions both to knowledge production and to broader social change.

In conclusion, the panel stood out as an important example in terms of introducing KADES, making the work of specialized women’s units more visible, and strengthening awareness of institutional responsibility in combating violence against women. It was also evaluated as a concrete outcome of universities’ social responsibility mission.