Domestic violence kills 26 women in Turkey

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ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 16 (UPI) -- At least 26 women and three children have been killed in Turkey as a result of domestic violence during the first two months of 2013, officials said.

Republican People's Party Ankara deputy Aylin Nazliaka said during a press meeting in the Turkish parliament 22 women were raped in domestic violence incidents during the same period, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Another 40 women and one child were exposed to domestic violence, while 17 women had been sexually harassed within the first two months of 2013, Nazliaka said.

Citing a report from the Association for the Support of Women Candidates, Nazliaka said women hold 1.2 percent of elected positions in Turkey and only six women have been elected in the country's 17 elections since 1930.

Nazliaka noted that Turkey has never had a female president.