Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and our foundation, and hosted by Istanbul Commerce University, the 1st International Conference on Strengthening the Family commenced with an opening session at the Sâdâbâd Campus of Istanbul Commerce University, attended by our Chair of the Board, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Canan Sarı.
Held under the theme “State Policies Based on Strengthening the Family in Türkiye and Uzbekistan,” the conference was realized through the collaboration of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan Family and Women’s Committee, the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM), and the Uzbek Women’s Rights Association.
The opening session was attended by the Rector of Istanbul Commerce University, Prof. Dr. Necip Şimşek; President of the Uzbek Women’s Rights Association, Ozoda Islamova; our Chair of the Board, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Canan Sarı; Muhabbat Mirsolieva from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan; and Ayşenur Çoban, Director General of the Family Institute of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
Throughout the conference, academics, public officials, and representatives of civil society organizations address current policies aimed at protecting and strengthening the family institution, drawing on examples from both Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Canan Sarı: “Strengthening the family is a long-term investment in society as a whole”
In her opening remarks, our Chair of the Board, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Canan Sarı, emphasized that the family is the most fundamental building block of society. Drawing attention to the historical ties between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, she noted that this deep-rooted relationship has evolved into meaningful and forward-looking cooperation.
“Every step taken to strengthen the family is a long-term investment in society as a whole,” said Sarı, highlighting that global economic uncertainties, wars, forced migration, and social crises have had profound effects on family structures. She further stated that digitalization, erosion of value systems, and declining fertility rates pose increasing risks to the family institution. “Strengthening the family is a strategic issue that requires regional cooperation, collective wisdom, and international solidarity,” she added.
Sarı also emphasized that Türkiye has demonstrated strong political will in recent years to protect and strengthen the family, noting that KADEM plays an active role in this process from a non-governmental organization perspective.
She continued with the following remarks:
“It is not possible to strengthen the family in a society where women are not empowered, their rights are not secured, and they lack access to equal opportunities. Every step that makes women’s labor visible and increases their participation in social life lays the groundwork for a healthier and more resilient family structure.”
Stating that our foundation addresses the goal of strengthening the family through a broad framework—from education and employment to legal safeguards and the fight against violence—Sarı underlined that academic knowledge production is an integral component of these efforts. “Supporting field experience with scientific analysis significantly enhances the sustainability of policy recommendations,” she noted.
Strong Interest and Robust Academic Contribution
Emphasizing that the conference is the result of a comprehensive and well-structured preparation process, Sarı stated that workshops held in both Istanbul and Uzbekistan helped establish a shared intellectual foundation for cooperation in the field of family policies.
Noting the strong interest shown in the conference, which reflects the depth of academic engagement in family studies, Sarı explained that the two-day program features discussions spanning a wide range of topics—from public administration and policy implementation models to family roles, social transformation, cultural continuity, family and mental health, and legal frameworks.
Key topics also include state protection and support mechanisms for families, family and youth policies in the digital age, media representations, and aging policies.
Sarı concluded her remarks with the following statement:
“I sincerely believe that the academic outputs and concrete recommendations generated by this conference will pave the way for new workshops, joint projects, and sustainable collaborations.”
The 1st International Conference on Strengthening the Family aims to enhance cooperation between Türkiye and Uzbekistan in the field of family policies and to contribute meaningfully to policy-making processes.
