Statement by Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik on the occasion of 8 March International Women’s Day

In his statement on the occasion of 8 March International Women’s Day, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik said that Türkiye’s EU accession process has brought a multi-dimensional socio-economic change and transformation.

Minister Çelik, who said that gender equality as a significant human right was an essential condition for democracy to have a genuine and dynamic meaning and effect, indicated that significant progress had been achieved in this area since 2002 with the comprehensive reforms carried out for Türkiye’s EU membership process.

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik said that the provision “women and men have equal rights” had been introduced to the Constitution in 2004. Minister Çelik also reminded that positive discrimination for women had been guaranteed in the Constitution with the referendum of 12 September 2010.

Minister Ömer Çelik said that the International Women’s Day, which is celebrated with a different theme every year, would this year be celebrated with the theme: “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives". Minister Çelik said:

“As the Ministry for EU Affairs, we see ensuring gender equality as a priority in all of the work carried out. In this context, we carry out the Civil Society programme with a budget of 190 million Euro from which civil society organisations conducting work regarding women may also benefit and support projects on the strengthening of civil society and their participation in decision-making processes.

Women bring discipline, aesthetics and happiness to where they are present.  I am proud to be the Minister of a public institution in which the 52% of the employees and 42% of the administrators are women. On this occasion, I thank all who have spent efforts to ensure that women in our country achieve the social, economic and social status they deserve. I would like congratulate 8 March International Women’s Day for all women, including my colleagues.