As the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM), we represented Türkiye at the 2nd World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) held in Doha, Qatar, where we highlighted women’s role, labour, and leadership in social development. Our foundation was represented by our Chairwoman, Atty. Dr. Canan Sarı, and our Deputy General Manager for Strategic Development, Dr. Betül Özel Çiçek.

Organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) from 4–6 November 2025 in the Qatari capital Doha, the 2nd World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) brought together government, civil society, and academia from around the world under the principle of “leaving no one behind.”

As an ECOSOC-accredited NGO, we presented Türkiye’s family-centred social development experience to the international audience, sharing strong examples of women’s empowerment and care economy.

Our Chairwoman Atty. Dr. Canan Sarı: “Empowering women is empowering the family.”

Atty. Dr. Canan Sarı and the KADEM delegation participated in four separate sessions at the summit:

• Panel organised by the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI): “Protecting Families in War and Conflict: Policy and Programme Interventions”
• The “Solutions Studio” session of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
• Side event organised by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Permanent Observer Mission: “The Circle of Care: Families Supporting the Young, the Old, and All in Need”
• Programme organised by the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF): “Youth-Focused Solutions to Advance Social Development: Youth Perspectives and Contributions to Accelerating Social Integration.”

During the “Protecting Families in War and Conflict: Policy and Programme Interventions” panel, Atty. Dr. Canan Sarı reminded participants that global crises impact families the most, underscoring that policies to protect and strengthen families must be implemented beyond war and conflict contexts. She emphasised: “Empowering women is empowering the family. Humanitarian aid systems should aim not only for survival, but for living together.”

In the ICYF programme, she described young people as an investment in the future: “As long as we perceive youth not as a ‘burden’ on our shoulders, but as ‘companions’ on the road, we will both advance our social-development goals and contribute to a fairer, more compassionate world.”

In the SESRIC session she highlighted the importance of equitable sharing of the care responsibilities: “No system that leaves the care burden solely on women’s shoulders is just. Caring for children, the elderly, and the disabled is a shared responsibility of the family, the state and society.”

Summing up KADEM’s vision for the summit, Atty. Dr. Canan Sarı said: “Women’s economic, social, and political empowerment is the strongest foundation of just development. For us this summit is not just representation; it is the global proclamation of the principle we have long advocated: ‘Equality in existence, justice in responsibility.’”

Dr. Betül Özel Çiçek: “Empowering women through comprehensive services contributes to family well-being.”

Our Deputy General Manager for Strategic Development, Dr. Betül Özel Çiçek, presented KADEM’s work at the UN DESA “Solutions Studio.” She highlighted that family-centred social support models are directly linked to women’s empowerment: “Empowering women with comprehensive services directly contributes to family resilience and well-being.”

Dr. Özel Çiçek outlined KADEM’s national initiatives: Support Centres for Women reaching over 11.000 women across Türkiye, the “Stalking is Violence” and “Don’t Be a Spectator to Violence” campaigns, and our international advocacy work on the care economy.

A Strong Contribution from Türkiye’s Civil Society

Throughout the summit we held meetings with numerous country delegations and international organisations. These discussions explored opportunities for joint projects in areas such as strengthening social policies, increasing women’s economic participation, advancing the care economy, combating violence and supporting women’s entrepreneurship.

KADEM’s participation introduced Türkiye’s justice-centred social development approach —which simultaneously empowers women and families— to the international community.

In her concluding remarks, Chairwoman Canan Sarı stated:

“We are at the 2nd World Summit for Social Development in Doha. This summit gathers global efforts for social justice and development, under the principle of “leaving no one behind.” As the voice of women from Türkiye, we are here to articulate the transformative power of women and youth in social development. Our aim is to strengthen women not only within the family, but in every sphere of society.

At the session we co-organised with DIFI —“Protecting Women in War and Conflict”— we shared the stories of women bearing the invisible burden of war, and our policy recommendations. We emphasised that in crises women are not only victims, but the main carriers of societal resilience.

In the session we held with SESRIC and the OIC —“The Circle of Care”— we highlighted women’s invisible labour and the role of caregiving in social development. We stressed that care is not a cost, but an investment in human development.

At the ICYF session with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, focusing on youth-driven solutions for social development, we emphasised that young people are not only the future, but the transformative force of today. On the ground we see very clearly: as women are empowered, families, societies and economies strengthen.

And we want to emphasise this clearly: Social development policies fall short if they aim to transform women’s lives yet exclude women from the decision-making. A social development vision without women’s data, experience, labour, and presence cannot claim justice. Our message as KADEM is very clear: Without making women the subjects of social development, just development is not possible.”

Visit to the Turkish Embassy in Doha

During the summit our team visited Türkiye’s Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Mustafa Göksu. We briefed Ambassador Göksu on Türkiye’s family-and-women-centred social development approach as well as our international activities as KADEM.