Marking International Women’s Day, IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu emphasised that gender equality is not only a matter of rights but also a fundamental indicator of economic development and democratic maturity. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu underlined the importance of building a society in which women participate on equal terms and live in security and prosperity. Comparing the latest data from Türkiye and the EU, Chairperson Zeytinoğlu also outlined the new EU strategy document that sets the roadmap for the coming period.

In his statement, Chairperson Zeytinoğlu said:

“On this day when we celebrate 8 March, we see that barriers to women’s participation in socio-economic life remain a challenge across the world. According to the results of the 2025 EU Gender Equality Index, while a limited improvement in scores has been observed across the EU, issues such as care work, wage inequality and women’s representation in decision-making mechanisms continue to constitute critical thresholds. If the EU continues at its current pace, it will need approximately 50 years to achieve full gender equality.

Looking specifically at Türkiye, the 2025 Women Statistics of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) show that the female labour force participation rate has approached the 36% range. However, we must face the reality that this figure still lags far behind the EU average, which stands at around 70%. Although women’s participation in the labour force increases with higher levels of education, the gender pay gap among women with higher education degrees still stands at around 16–17%, demonstrating the need for structural reforms. In the EU, the gender pay gap stands at approximately 12%.

The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, published by the European Commission on 5 March 2026, clearly sets out the vision for the next five years. The strategy focuses on ensuring that women are not left behind in the twin transitions of digital transformation and the Green Deal, addressing gender bias in artificial intelligence algorithms, and professionalising the care economy. As Türkiye, within the framework of the modernisation of the Customs Union and our EU alignment process, we should internalise these new-generation equality policies. In particular, increasing women’s presence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is of vital importance for our global competitiveness.”

Chairperson Zeytinoğlu concluded his message with the following remarks:

“As IKV, we consider it our duty to mainstream gender equality across all policy areas. The words of the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk “If a society does not move forward together with all its women and men towards the same goal, it is neither technically possible nor scientifically plausible for that society to progress” are more relevant today than ever before. With the hope of a future in which women live free from violence and are equipped with equal rights and opportunities, I extend my congratulations to all women on the occasion of International Women’s Day.”