National Council of Turkish Women

Madame President
Distinguished friends,
Dear members of National Union of the Tunisian Women,

I brought the greetings of the National Council of the Turkish Women, the association for Union and Solidarity of women and the Federation of Turkish Women.
I hope we will have closer relations from now of for the sake of women and the world’s peace. So that we can have on opportunity to crate a better world.

National Council of Turkish women is founded in 1959 and in 1961 be a full member of international council of women and ECICW- European center of international council of women.
This organization has consultative status at European Parliament European council and United Nations.
We have 11 branches and we cooperate with the council of Northern Cyprus.

There are prominent and radical changes of Turkish Code 2002. Economic, social and cultural transformation demanded by society and women NGO’s have been taken into consideration and quite satisfactory changes has been made in amendments.

Civil society has an important place in Turkey for the Republic built on Right of Defense Assemblies and these assemblies took the decision for the war of independence. We looked to the historic background of Turkish Women when they were in shaman religion there was equality between women and men.
In ottoman times, the women were considered as second-class citizens.
They wrote their complaints to newspapers and magazines until 1923 Turkish women suffered from the disadvantages of being woman in 1923 after the foundation of the Republic “ Women’s Party” and in 1924. “ The Union of Turkish Women” established 1926 with the adoption of the civil code women obtained almost all equal rights, and in 1934 women obtained the right to vote and to be elected in the parliamentary elections.
Mustapha Kemal’s goal was independence second was the women rights.
These reforms on the alphabet education and on the civil code took women out of the cocoon and now we have women in many important positions but unfortunately de facto de jure, rules and realities are not same. Results are not so satisfactory yet.

Like in every other country women have problems in Turkey such as violence against women, violence in the family, poverty, family planning, women o rural areas, unpaid women workers, illiteracy are some of the problems of Turkish women. When we have a good network through our branches. It has been figured out that the women organizations has to unite under the umbrella of federation, so we can be more effective and powerful 9 associations united in Turkish women federation. Every term we discuss the severe problems of the country and make a scale of priority list. Poverty, population and education are the fundamental problems of turkey. We made a plan of action we developed committees for advocacy and awareness of the society. Primary education is compulsory for all children and its coeducation through out their all education. There might be some drop outs. New generation girls want to be educated. They don’t want to be like their.
Parents and their mothers who lived a miserable life. Ministry of state established education centers giving proficiency courses for the girls and females of every age.
To combat illiteracy we invited the government officials for a round table. I observe that with the abuses and education. I observe that with the efforts of ministry of education. There is a positive change in girls’ education. For the alphabetization of women under the auspices of our first lady Mrs. Lezer National Education Commission of NGO’s has a successful compaign nation wide.

Turks and Tunisians have something in common. We have a leader like Mustafa Kemal and You Tunisian Women have a leader like Habib Bourguiba and I must say that I must say That I am honoured to Know his Excellency Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Yes, you are very lucky to have such leader full of respect to women and women’s rights.

This meeting built bridges between us.
I thank Mrs. Aziza Hatira for this successful meeting. Understanding between cultures and tolerance could bring peace to work.
Fifty percent of the world is women and every human being has a mother.
So as a women we have no country but whole world is our country.
We exchanged ideas and experiences. Again, thank you Mrs. Aziza Hatira.
Lets combat with illiteracy and terrorism and armed conflict for islam means peace.