I celebrate all of our women on March 8^th, World Women's Day. I would like to point out on this International Women’s Day that the necessary steps must be taken to speed up the elimination of the discrimination and problems with which women face at home, on streets, at work and in politics.

As the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, “Human kind is made up of two sexes, women and men. Is it possible that a mass is improved by the improvement of only one part and the other part is ignored? Is it possible that if half of a mass is tied to earth with chains and the other half can soar into sky?” Based on this understanding, it is obvious that we must work to improve the situation of women in all over the world and Turkey and maximise the contributions women could provide to society.

The labour force participation rate of our women is very low, especially in comparison with the EU, which we aim to be a member of. While the labour force participation rate of women in Turkey is 27.5%, this is 65% in the EU. When we look at the global indices, we also see that our country is at the back rows in terms of gender equality. At the Global Gender Gap Index, which measures the difference between women and men in economic participation, access to education, health and political empowerment, Turkey is ranked the 130^th out of 144 countries. To make women participate more in all aspects of the economy, society and politics preparation of appropriate conditions, if necessary implementation of the quota should be supported.

Ayhan Zeytinoğlu

IKV Chairman