The
conference,
which is
organized by
Marmara
Foundation in
partnership with
İzmir Economy
University,
discussed how
gender equality
is a fundamental
right, a common
value of the EU,
and a necessary
condition for
the achievement
of the EU
objectives of
growth,
employment and
social cohesion.
The conference
participants
also mentioned
that EU has made
significant
progress in
achieving gender
equality, thanks
to equal
treatment
legislation,
gender
mainstreaming,
specific
measures for the
advancement of
women, action
programmes,
social dialogue
and dialogue
with civil
society. Marmara
Foundation AB
Platform Chair
Müjgan Suver
said: “The
European
Parliament has
been an
important
partner for
progress. Many
women have
attained the
highest levels
of education,
entered the
labour market
and become
important
players in
public life.
Nevertheless,
inequalities
remain and may
widen, as
increased global
economic
competition
requires a more
flexible and
mobile labour
force. This can
impact more on
women, who are
often obliged to
choose between
having children
or a career, due
to the lack of
flexible working
arrangements and
care services,
the persistence
of gender
stereotypes, and
an unequal share
of family
responsibilities
with men.
Progress made by
women, including
in key areas for
the Lisbon
Strategy such a
education and
research, are
not fully
reflected in
women's position
on the labour
market. This is
a waste of human
capital that the
EU cannot
afford. At the
same time, low
birth rates and
a shrinking
workforce
threaten the
EU’s political
and economic
role. EU Gender
Equality Roadmap
2006-2010 aims
to achieve a
speedy
implementation
of gender
equality in
every policy
area. While the
situation is
such in European
countries,
Turkish
statistics and
implementations
reflect a
different
reality. (For
instance,
fertility rates
decrease in EU,
while in Turkey
it increases.
Also, in EU,
women’s
employment rates
go up while in
Turkey they go
down.)
“Problems Cannot
be Solved With
the Negotiation
Process"
Wife of the
President of the
Turkish Republic
Mme. Semra
Sezer, pointed
out one of the
main objectives
of Turkey;
education and to
create more
opportunities in
the production
and
administration
sector and she
added; “In our
country
education is our
core issue for
the development
of the Turkish
women. Realizing
the
responsibilities
that we have
from the EU full
membership
process will not
be enough to
provide equal
opportunities
and to prevent
the sexual
discrimination.”
“1st Biennale
International
Women’s Studies
Conference” took
place with a
title “The
Effects of the
EU on the
Socio-Economic
Development of
Women” on 22-24
June 2006, in
İzmir. The
conference was
realized with
the cooperation
of Izmir Economy
University,
Marmara Group
Strategic and
Social Research
Foundation and
Izmir Chamber of
Commerce and
participated by
Oğuz Kağan
Köksal –
Governor of
Izmir, Aziz
Kocaoğlu – Mayor
of Izmir
Metropolitan
Municipality and
his spouse Mme.
Türkegül
Kocaoğlu, Prof.
Dr. Atilla
Sezgin -
President of
Izmir Economy
University,
Prof. Dr. Hülya
Tütek and Mme.
Müjgan Suver –
Chairs of the
Organization
Committee.
Mme. Semra Sezer
made a speech at
the beginning of
the conference
and underlined
the importance
of the
political,
economic and
cultural status
of women in the
society,
protection of
their honor and
their
participation to
the social life.
It is a
universal need
to fill the gaps
in the frame of
EU negotiation
process. “One of
the most
important
problems of the
women in Turkey
is their health
conditions” said
Mme Sezer. And
she added; “At
the beginning of
the 1990’s women
were forming the
1/3 of the
overall
workforce of
Turkey. 7 women
out of ten are
working without
regular wages
and social
security. In
spite we are
satisfied with
the ratio of
women in the
education and
health sector;
in general women
have low level
statuses with
low wages. Our
women should
follow any
gender
discrimination
and try to find
out solutions on
the political
and legal
bases.”
Governor of
Izmir, Oğuz
Kağan Köksal
said that the
social status of
the women should
be increased.
Governor Köksal
kept on his
speech with
these words; “We
are preparing a
project for the
education of
women and
children living
in areas with a
low income rate
by the youths
graduated from
the
universities. We
fund these young
people and pay
them their
travel expenses
and these young
people assist
the families. We
want to interact
the families
with these
university
graduated
students and
create and idea
of “town
dweller””.
“The Mentality
Has To Change”
İEU President
Prof. Attila
Sezgin thanked
Semra Sezer for
her
participation in
the conference.
He mentioned
that Turkish
women still lack
enough
representation
in the
workforce,
political and
economic
spheres. Prof.
Attila Sezgin
said “In spite
of this, there
are successful
women managers
in these areas.
I hope that this
conference will
be useful for
all the
participants and
will contribute
to the
betterment of
women’s rights.
“We Need
Immigrant
Women’s
Participation”
Mayor of Izmir
Metropolitan
Municipality,
Aziz Kocaoğlu
stated that
especially
immigrant women
do not
participate in
the production
process. He
focused on the
importance of
civil society
and educational
activities to
urbanize these
women. Kocaoğlu
also mentioned
that Izmir has a
highly educated
population which
could be used as
a reference city
in joining the
EU.
“The Importance
of the Political
Leadership”
In order for
Turkey to
complete its
Gender Equality
Roadmap
2006-2010 and
women’s
employment
strategy, it
needs a national
employment
strategy. İş-Kur
General
Secretary Namık
Ata informed the
audience about
the planning and
implementation
of their
organization
about the gender
issue. TISK
Director Tuğrul
Kutadgobilik and
International
Labour
Organization’s
representative
of Turkey Gülay
Aslantepe gave
their opinions
about the
employment
policies in
Turkey as well
as explaining
their activities
in these
organizations
regarding this
issue. Türk-İş
and Hak-İş
representatives
voiced their
opinions and
Ankara
University
Professor Gülay
Toksöz told the
activities of
UN-CEDAV
partnership. She
also suggested
an action plan
to be drafted in
line with EU
values and
previous reports
on the issue of
gender equality.
The common theme
of the panel
speakers was the
necessity for
the patriarchal
mentality of the
society to
change. Plans
and activities
are necessary
for this
societal change
but most
importantly
political
leadership is
needed. It is
agreed by all
speakers that
employer
representatives,
worker
representative,
public and civil
society
representatives,
university and
media should all
work together
toward this
common goal.
“Action Plans”
Marmara
Foundation – EU
Platform Chair
Müjgan Suver
chaired the
panel on Turkish
Women’s
Employment
Strategy and
National Women
Strategy.
KAGIDER
representative
Dilek Üstün
informed the
panel about the
projects and
results on the
gender equality
issue.
TULİP Education
Consultant Şafak
Özsoy and
economist and
Doğru Yol
General
Secretary
Assistant Binhan
Oğuz talked
about issues
such as human
resources,
corporate social
responsibility,
and the
responsibilities
of employers.
İzmir Women
Organizations’
Union Director
Yıldız Belger,
emphasized on
the key issues
about gender
equality.
TUSİAD-EU Women
Studies Group
Director Feryal
Menemenli, in
addition to
others’
opinions, added
the importance
of making Women
Employment
Strategies and
National Women
Strategies in
the light of
Turkey’s needs,
international
context and the
realities of the
problem.
Policies and
social program
that are
implemented
without
considering the
realities of the
problem will
fail and will
not benefit the
women.
The workshop on
the national
women employment
strategies and
the action plan
brought together
civil society
members, labour
unions,
employers and
the academics in
order to discuss
the priorities
of the problem.
İstanbul Women
Organizations’
Union Director
Nazan Moroğlu
told her
opinions about
education,
pre-education,
job-oriented
education and
life-long
education.
It is concluded
that in order to
prepare an
action plan,
recent
statistics,
information and
reports are
needed. Social
Gender Equality
Roadmap
2006-2010 will
be drafted in
Ankara and
İstanbul by
small
committees. The
completed plan
will be
introduced to
the public and
submitted to the
political
authorities.