Gender inequality in Turkey narrowing, but slowly

Gender inequality in Turkey is slowly narrowing, but there is still much to do to catch up with European standards, according to a new report co-authored by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and the Turkish Women Entrepreneurs' Association (KAGIDER). The report focuses on education, employment, and political involvement for women, and the EU's role in reducing gender inequality. Speaking to journalists about the report yesterday, TUSIAD head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindağ called on all officials and decision-makers to prioritize the issue. Decrying the lack of women in local politics, she said, "The fact that women are almost non-existent in local politics is an area that is repeatedly ignored." She also said that long-term, comprehensive policies should be developed and carried out with the cooperation of the government, non-governmental organizations, and academics knowledgeable about gender issues.