The “Disaster and Women Panel” was held on 8 March 2023, in partnership with the EU Delegation to Türkiye and the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality. EU Information Centres Network operating in 19 provinces in Türkiye participated in the panel online. At the panel moderated by Journalist Afşin Yurdakul, the physical and psychological effects of the 6 February earthquakes, which affected 11 provinces in Türkiye, on women were discussed in all aspects. Academicians, non-governmental organisations working on gender equality, representatives from national and international organisations participated in the panel.

Making the opening speech of the panel, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Prof. Yılmaz Büyükerşen started his speech by stating that women should have a say in the risk management phase of disaster management. Mayor Büyükerşen stated that it is important to listen carefully to the requests, complaints and demands of women in this process and to make the necessary plans. The opening speeches of the panel continued with the words of Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut. Ambassador Meyer-Landrut started his speech by stating that the EU has provided aid to Türkiye since the first day of the earthquake. Especially in search and rescue efforts, both the EU and EU Member States tried to save as many lives as possible with many operations.

Opening speeches were ended by Ankara University Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Department of Urban, Environmental and Local Government Policies Lecturer Prof. Nesrin Algan who started her speech by emphasising the difficulties of being a woman in a disaster area. She underlined the necessity of women's participation in disaster management studies in order to support women in the region. In the sessions that took place after the opening speeches, the speakers conveyed their views on Turkish women's place and needs in today's society with a special focus on the post-earthquake situation.