Turkish women speak with ‘single voice’

ISTANBUL

Female parliamentary candidates from all parties were present at the event organized in Istanbul on May 22 by “Haklı Kadın Platformu” (Righteous Women Platform).

Turkey’s leading women in politics and the economy have met for the “Single Voice for Women” event in Istanbul, stressing the importance of gender equality for the development of democracy and economy.

“We know that our voice is stronger when we are together,” said Vuslat Doğan Sabancı in her opening speech, as daily Hürriyet’s chairwoman and the founder of “Haklı Kadın Platformu” (Righteous Women Platform), which organized the event on May 22.

In her speech, Sabancı praised how Turkish women have excelled at “the art of unconditional help” even as fierce competition rules in the world. 

After telling the story of a farmer who grew the best corn but shared its seeds with everyone else to improve the whole region’s crops with wind pollination, Sabancı added that “we should hear this wind to allow the world progress.”

Female parliamentary candidates from all parties were invited to the event. The platform argues that the role of women in Turkish society will improve if all woman parliamentarians unite to change party agendas and the public mindset while improving women’s rights.