As part of the 2026 NATO Summit, we hosted our panel titled “Women at the Frontline of Societal Resilience: Civil Society, Recovery and Human Security in Times of Crisis” during the “Allies in Ankara” program, organized under the coordination of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications, the Munich Security Conference, and the SETA Foundation.
Bringing together representatives from international organizations, public institutions, academia, and civil society, the panel explored the role of women in strengthening societal resilience during times of crisis, the contribution of civil society to recovery processes, and human-security-centered approaches from a multidimensional perspective. The session was moderated by SESRIC Director General Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk.
Security Now Encompasses Societal Resilience
In her opening remarks, our Chairperson of the Board, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Canan Sarı, emphasized that today’s understanding of security extends far beyond armed conflicts between states. She noted that wars, migration, natural disasters, pandemics, economic vulnerabilities, and the climate crisis directly affect societies, making preparedness, resilience, and the capacity for recovery essential indicators of security. She stressed that societal resilience and human security have become central concepts on the international security agenda.
Sarı underlined that societal resilience is not merely about rebuilding physical infrastructure. Rather, the first structure that must be restored after a crisis is daily life itself. She highlighted the often invisible yet indispensable role women play in maintaining children’s education, rebuilding family life, caring for older persons and persons with disabilities, and strengthening neighborhood solidarity.
She also emphasized that civil society organizations are among the most important actors in times of crisis, as they are often the first to identify urgent needs on the ground, preserve social trust, and support long-term recovery efforts. In particular, she noted that women-focused civil society organizations transform women’s lived experiences into organized social action.
Referring to KADEM’s work, Sarı stated that for the past 13 years, KADEM has been carrying out rights-based initiatives in the field of women’s rights. Today, with a strong volunteer network operating across 58 provinces, the organization conducts activities ranging from education and advocacy to projects, academic research, and international cooperation. She highlighted the KADEM Support Centers for Women as one of the organization’s most significant initiatives.
Support Centers for Women Offer a Strong Recovery Model
Following the establishment of the first Support Center for Women in Istanbul in 2022, KADEM opened additional centers in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Malatya shortly after the February 6 earthquakes, providing women with psychosocial support and counseling services. Sarı stated that the earthquake experience clearly demonstrated the importance of strong local organization and institutional capacity built before disasters occur.
Speaking at the panel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Nişancı, faculty member at Marmara University and Advisor to the KADEM Support Centers for Women, emphasized that post-disaster recovery is not limited to physical reconstruction. She introduced the Support Centers for Women as a model based on women’s needs, trust-based relationships, and a holistic case management approach. She also noted that research conducted with women receiving services from the centers demonstrates the model’s significant contribution to women’s empowerment and improved quality of life.
Women’s Empowerment Is Essential for Human Security
Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative in Türkiye, emphasized that women’s access to their rights, healthcare, and opportunities throughout every stage of life constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of societal resilience. She noted that family-friendly policies supporting women’s participation in the workforce strengthen not only social welfare but also demographic resilience. Khan further stressed that ensuring women’s access to healthcare services, safe childbirth, and protection from violence during disasters is an integral component of human security.
Disaster Resilience Is Strengthened Through Public–Civil Society Cooperation
Prof. Dr. Orhan Tatar, Director General of Earthquake and Risk Reduction at AFAD, recalled the immense destruction caused by the February 6 earthquakes and stated that successful recovery in the aftermath of disasters and crises depends on close coordination between public institutions and civil society organizations.
While emphasizing the importance of constructing resilient buildings as part of disaster preparedness, Tatar pointed out that physical infrastructure represents only one dimension of resilience. Genuine societal resilience, he argued, is made possible through strong social ties, effective cooperation, and the leading role played by women. He underlined that women’s efforts to help families and local communities recover are among the most critical elements of post-crisis recovery.
Women’s Leadership Is the Key to More Resilient Societies
Martina Rogato, President of Human Rights International Corner and Co-Chair of Women7 (W7) Italy, stated that women should not merely be viewed as groups affected by crises but as leaders who generate solutions, mobilize communities, and contribute to peacebuilding. She stressed the importance of systematically integrating women’s field experience into national and international policymaking processes and argued that resilient societies can only be built through inclusive governance and women’s meaningful participation in decision-making mechanisms.
A Shared Goal: Resilient Societies Centered on Human Security
During the roundtable session held at the conclusion of the panel, participants exchanged views on international cooperation to strengthen women’s leadership in the face of disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises, the role of civil society in policymaking, and holistic approaches centered on human security.
The panel reaffirmed that women are not merely individuals affected by crises but powerful actors who generate solutions, rebuild communities, and shape the future. Participants highlighted that women’s leadership and the practical experience of civil society are indispensable for building more resilient societies, while emphasizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation based on a shared commitment to human security.
At KADEM, we remain committed to making women’s role in crisis management, post-disaster recovery, and strengthening societal resilience more visible. Through our national and international partnerships, we will continue our efforts to advance human security and promote sustainable, resilient communities.
