KADEM’s 1st Extraordinary General Assembly was Held
21 July 2018, Istanbul
Woman and Democracy Association (KADEM) held its 1st Extraordinary General Assembly, with the participation of 42 representatives from all over the country, as well as those who have put their hearts in KADEM, on 21 July 2018 Saturday,
At the general assembly meeting, where speeches were delivered by KADEM Founding President AK Parti Istanbul Member of Parliament Assoc. Prof. Dr. E. Sare Aydın Yılmaz, KADEM Persident Dr. Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu, KADEM Vice-President Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, and Family, Labour and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, the new board of directors was elected following the appointment of delegates .
Delivering the opening speech of the general assembly meeting, Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar emphasised on the fact that the issue of women concerned the public in general, and elaborated on cases of harassment. Bayraktar stated that, if cases of harassment are to be interpreted in light of victimization, the father, spouse and brother of a woman who experiences harassment are also victims and it is also those men’s problem.
Bayraktar stated, “the subordination of women in society or their removal from social life is to cross the boundaries drawn by God. With this point of view, KADEM addresses everyone without discriminating between women and men. Our objective is to ensure the peace and wellbeing of not only women, but also of the family and the community. With a paradigm-shifting and breaking-prejudgments point of view, we are striving to transform the perceptions that prevent women from attaining the position they deserve in society. The principle of justice has always served as a compass in our work. Women playing a more effective role as part of decision-making mechanisms will strengthen our solidarity on our way to achieving real representative power well beyond a symbolic representation, and together we will make an effort to assert our presence in the most qualified manner possible.’
Speaking after Bayraktar, KADEM President Dr. Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu stated that KADEM acts with a perspective that prefers the use of the term “Gender Justice” instead of “Gender Equality,” and added that this term allows the issue of women to be interpreted more accurately by accepting the differences that originate from creation as wealth.
Gümrükçüoğlu stated: “by keeping our national, spiritual and cultural values at the forefront, KADEM contributed to the establishment a more just and equitable social order. With the reference, “the most valuable of humans is those who are most superior in ‘Taqwa’,” women and men are equal in their servitude to God. Having different rights and responsibilities due to their different psychological and physiological structures, men and women are responsible to construct the face of the earth in the best possible manner by complementing each other.”
Also mentioning the importance of education, Gümrükçüoğlu added: “Aware of the fact that questioning and learning science is necessary for each individual, male or female, we will continue to implement projects, campaigns and discourses to create awareness about equal opportunities in education across Turkey and the schooling of girls.”
Speaking after Gümrükçüoğlu, KADEM Founding President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sare Aydın expressed the joy resulting from the realization of this dream that she dreamt 5 and a half years ago, and stated, “it saddens me that I will not be able to spend more time with you due to my new assignment, but I know that this movement is Turkey’s movement.”
Delivering the last speech of KADEM’s 1st Extraordinary General Assembly, Labour – Social Services and Family Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk emphasised on the fact that they are aware of their responsibilities as the first cabinet of the new government system, and that they would act with the consciousness of being “us” by giving importance to the common sense, joint work and consultation, and that all together they would bring Turkey to a more prosperous future.
During the 2nd Session of the KADEM 1st Extraordinary General Assembly, presided over by Tokat Member of Parliament Özlem Zengin, Att.-at-Law, which followed the speeches, the members of the new board of directors were elected through the delegates’ votes.
The KADEM 1st Extraordinary General Assembly was adjourned following the acknowledgement speech delivered by Dr. Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu, who was elected by way of delegates’ votes.
The new members of the board who were elected at the 1st Extraordinary General Assembly which was held on 21 July 2018 Saturday:
Dr. Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu
Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar
Dr. H. Şule Albayrak
Hüsna Hamiyet Bayram
Özgül Özkan Yavuz
Av. Derya Yanık
Dr. Fatmanur Altun
Betül Altınsoy Yanılmaz, Att.-at-Law
Sevim Zehra Can Kaya
