We Celebrated December 5 Women's Rights Day with the "Women Who Elect and Are Elected" Panel

As the ITU Women's Studies Center in Science, Engineering and Technology, the “Women Who Elect and Are Elected” panel we organized on December 4 brought together female politicians, academicians, mayors, and our graduates on Women's Rights Day, which our country celebrated its 90th anniversary. 

This event, organized within the scope of December 5 Women's Rights Day, which is celebrated every year due to the acceptance of the law granting women the right to vote and be elected in our country, was held under the moderation of Istanbul University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Zeybek. Uskudar University Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Deniz Ulke Kaynak, Mayor of Uskudar Sinem Dedetas, and Istanbul 3rd Region Deputy Nilhan Ayan took part in the panel as speakers. Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Fatma Sahin conveyed her messages to us via a video message.

Speaking at the opening of the panel, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal drew attention to ITU's pioneering identity from past to present as an institution where Turkey's first female engineers were educated. Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal underlined that he has adopted an approach that supports women taking a strong and effective place in academic, professional, and social fields since the day he took office, and in this respect, he attaches great importance to increasing the number of women, especially in ITU administrative staff.

In her speech where she gave information about the establishment purpose and history of BMT KAUM, our Center Director Prof. Dr. Hatice Ayatac emphasized that the reforms made in our country since the acceptance of the Civil Code are a reflection of our Republic's understanding of modernization and equality. Prof. Dr. Ayatac pointed out that 3 of the 15 ITU graduate mayors who came to office with the March 31 local elections are women.

While addressing women's struggle for equal rights in the political field in the panel, we had the opportunity to discuss women's representation in politics at the point reached today, the difficulties encountered in this regard, and solution suggestions.

We would like to thank all event participants, our moderator and panelists, our Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, and our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Lutfiye Durak Ata for their contributions to our panel. 

To Access the Event Recording Click Here.