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The "Symposium on the Cycle of Violence and Solution Proposals" was hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU). The symposium, organized at the OMU Atatürk Cultural Center, aimed to address the phenomena behind violence and propose solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together units working on violence-related issues. The symposium covered the phenomenon of violence, types of violence, violence in the family, education, media, and healthcare, its causes, and its social, psychological, and economic dimensions, as well as solutions for prevention.

In his opening symposium speech, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal emphasized the need to understand "what violence is, how it starts, how it can be prevented, and what constitutes violence."

Rector Ünal pointed out that the symposium would contribute to rethinking, evaluating, and reporting the phenomenon of violence, stating, "The real issue to be discussed about violence is perception. Transformation and violence are occurring worldwide, but how do we perceive it? Our way of perception actually reveals how we react."

"A Crime Against Humanity, a Genocide, is Happening in Gaza"

Ünal expressed the need to classify the typology of violence in Gaza, noting, "When looking at events happening today in Gaza, East Turkistan, and many parts of the world, people somehow soothe their consciences. They comfort their consciences with fabricated perceptions. If we talk about the events in Gaza, a perception has started to form based on the ensuing war. Interestingly, people who share the same culture, geography, and future risks remain indifferent and silent to the war due to these created perceptions. The war happening there today will be here tomorrow. Without saying, 'What difference will my boycott make,' we need to break the power in the hands of the other side. Looking at the violence occurring, a crime against humanity, a genocide, is happening in Gaza."

"Every Individual Must Become Aware to Break the Cycle of Violence"

Stressing that violence should not be oversimplified, Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal said, "We cannot consider violence only as physical violence. Other types of violence are invisible but have a significant impact. We must do everything we can to prevent all types of violence. Starting from the very basics, by identifying violence and its types, we need to establish a stance that can say 'no to violence.' To oppose violence and break the cycle, every individual must become aware of this issue."

"Cases of Violence Against Women Increased During the Pandemic"

Prof. Dr. Muharrem Kılıç, President of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK), discussed multiple awareness-raising activities conducted institutionally against violence towards women.

Highlighting that their studies often encountered violations of women's rights, Kılıç mentioned that, according to the World Health Organization's Report on Violence Against Women from previous years, 736 million women worldwide are victims of violence. "Especially during the pandemic, cases of violence against women have increased. We can cite psychological violence, economic violence, etc. We are also in contact with relevant institutions to raise awareness and prevent cyberbullying," he said.

Kılıç emphasized that violence against children has turned into a severe tragedy on national, regional, and global scales, adding, "We see an increase in child abuse and child labor. Peer violence and bullying are also heart-wrenching situations. According to the World Health Organization's 2015 data, 16% of the global elderly population is subjected to physical, emotional, economic, and sexual violence. It is projected that the number of elderly victims of violence will reach 320 million by 2050."

The symposium, also supported by TİHEK, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, Turkish Statistical Institute, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, Samsun Technopark, Technology Transfer Office, and OMÜ Foundation College, featured a violence-themed poster exhibition.