The “YANINDAYIZ Association” held its “Season Greetings” member gathering on the evening of September 5, 2023, at the Belgium Istanbul Consulate General, hosted by Selen Okay Akçalı, the President of the YANINDAYIZ Association Board of Directors, and Tim Van Anderlecht, the Belgian Consul General.
The “Season Greetings” member gathering of the YANINDAYIZ Association, which is the first of its kind in Turkey aiming to achieve gender equality with active participation of men and one of the few civil society organizations in the world, took place at the Belgium Istanbul Consulate General with the participation of YANINDAYIZ Association Board Members, association members, business leaders, and civil society organization leaders.
Selen Okay Akçalı, the President of the YANINDAYIZ Association Board of Directors, expressed in her opening speech that with the support and determination of its members, the association has made significant progress in a short period as a young organization. She mentioned that they are following in the footsteps of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who naturally equalized the rights of women and men in the societal conditions of a century ago, and she emphasized that there is still a long way to go for the country and society. Akçalı pointed out that gender equality is not only a women’s issue but also requires active involvement from men. She stated that the gains of the republic can only be preserved in this way. Referring to a book by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on gender equality, Akçalı conveyed the philosophy of YANINDAYIZ with the following words: “In the book titled ‘The Age of Women: Feminism Liberates Men Too,’ Mr. De Croo calls on his fellow men, saying that societal development can only be achieved in this way. YANINDAYIZ is the first and only representative of this movement in our country and the fourth in the world, where men actively support gender equality. Men are now questioning the identity imposed on them, opposing patriarchal norms, and continuing the fight alongside women.”
In her closing remarks, Akçalı congratulated and thanked the National Women’s Volleyball Team, who proudly waved our flag, delighted Turkey on the 100th anniversary of the Republic, and showcased the strength of Turkish women to the world.
Consul General Tim Van Anderlecht of Belgium emphasized in his opening speech that feminism and gender equality are not concepts that concern only women but also highlighted the economic contribution of equality: “The essence of the matter is that if we truly want to solve these inequalities, we need to convince as many men as women today that achieving gender equality is a noble goal. Let’s not settle for just talking about change; let’s be the change makers that lead us toward a more equitable and inclusive society. This is very important because gender equality is not just about doing what is right. It is also an economic imperative. Evidence shows that societies with gender equality are richer and happier.”
A call for support was also made for the “Kadınerkekeşittirnokta Conference,” which has been traditionally organized by the YANINDAYIZ Association since 2019. This year’s motto, “Long Live the Republic, Long Live Equality,” will be the main theme of the conference scheduled for October 11th at the İş Kuleleri Salonu. The conference will feature the participation of business leaders, association members, artists, politicians, and scientists. It will emphasize that gender equality is not just a women’s issue and that men also have a role to play. The conference will examine the past and present of women on the 100th anniversary of the Republic, discuss changing forms of masculinity, hear from artists about their 100 years, and make promises to shape the future of our youth. The conference will showcase examples of how gender equality can be implemented in Turkey and around the world, with inspirational sessions and speakers.
You can follow the most up-to-date information about the #kadınerkekeşittirnokta Conference at https://kadinerkekesittirnokta.com/ and their social media accounts.
ABOUT YANINDAYIZ ASSOCIATION
The YANINDAYIZ Association is one of the first and few civil society organizations in the world that aims to achieve gender equality with the active participation of men. It seeks to contribute to the transformation in laws, institutions, and societal life through awareness and awareness-raising activities on all kinds of obstacles and prejudices that cause gender-based inequality and discrimination. The YANINDAYIZ Association adheres to values such as being active, consistent, transparent, accountable, based on mutual trust and respect, open to communication, participation, cooperation, and sharing, and prides itself on projects and practices that are a source of pride for being involved. The Association adopts a peaceful approach to struggle, focusing on issues such as ending violence against women, equal opportunities in education, health, work life, and partnership in household chores. As the founders of pioneering men in the field, YANINDAYIZ Association has an effective Board of Directors, working groups, and an Advisory Board consisting of influential women.
CONTACT
Website: www.yanindayiz.org
