‘Gender equality needs to be secured in new charter’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

In the new Constitution, gender equality, in the real sense, should be assured, Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin says. AA photo

Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin said earliar today that gender equality needs to be secured in Turkey’s new Constitution.

The third International Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summit was held Nov. 8 at the Congress Center in Istanbul’s Harbiye district.

The theme of the summit was “the rising power of women in the new world order.” Şahin; the head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), Ümit Boyner; Dutch Housing and Environment Minister Sybilla M. Dekker attended the summit, as well as several local and international figures.

In her speech, Şahin emphasized the importance of organization for women and gender equality. “The entire potential of the society should be activated regardless of gender. In this respect, it is important that we know our course.”

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has reformed civil law, Şahin said. “Putting these changes into practice was extremely important. In the new Constitution, gender equality, in the real sense, should be assured.”

Boyner said Turkey was in last place among 135 countries regarding gender equality. She also pointed to the AKP’s goals for 2023, saying, “Without providing gender equality, progress is not possible.”
TÜSİAD has 3,500 member companies, Boyner said, stating that female members constituted only 35 percent, whereas the rate of female executives was 19 percent. She emphasized the importance of raising this figure.