What we do

All human development and human rights issues have gender dimensions. UN Women focuses on priority areas that are fundamental to women’s equality, and that can unlock progress across the board.

Women activists share their experiences on an interactive wall at a workshop organized by UN Women Türkiye. Photo: UN Women
Gender equality snapshot of Türkiye
Despite progress on women's empowerment, challenges persist in Türkiye in many areas, including violence against women and girls, and women's participation in decision-making processes as well as in economic, public, and political life.
Women leaders from civil society organizations and political parties are at the Experience Sharing Workshop. Photo: Ender Baykuş / UN Women
Leadership and political participation
Women’s political participation and representation in national and local elected bodies in Türkiye remains below the global average. Women face serious challenges in accessing leadership roles and participating in politics at all levels, despite all political parties using quotas and other voluntary special measures to increase women’s representation.
Çadır sohbetleri
Ending violence against women and girls
UN Women Türkiye partners with Ministries, local governments, civil society organizations, women’s movement, professional chambers, private sector and media, and other UN agencies to prevent and enhance the response to violence against women and girls.
SADA Women’s Cooperative actively attends events to introduce items that the women produce. Photo: UN Women Türkiye/Tayfun Dalkilic
Refugee response
Since 2017, through projects funded by the European Union and the Governments of Japan, Norway, and Iceland, more than 35,000 women from refugee and host communities have received support to access protection services and livelihoods. Over 8,000 women and girls have participated in activities that promote social cohesion.
Assoc. Prof. Emel Memiş is leading the gender-responsive budgeting training in district municipalities. Photo: UN Women.
Gender-responsive planning and budgeting
UN Women in Türkiye works with central government, municipalities, and civil society organisations to strengthen their capacity to analyse, prepare and monitor their budgets with a gender perspective.
Women activists are posing at a creative painting workshop. Photo: UN Women
Strengthening civil society capacities and multi-stakeholder partnerships
UN Women in Türkiye supports civil society organizations through its convening power, advocacy efforts, and catalytic programmes.
Intergovernmental support
In intergovernmental forums at the United Nations, Member States come together to debate and seek agreement on global gender equality norms and standards. As part of our mandate, UN Women supports Member States in setting norms.
Youth for Gender Group attending the UN Day of the Girl Child on 2022
UN system coordination
When different parts of the multilateral system act together, they can deliver greater results—and maximize the use of scarce resources. Within the UN system, UN Women is mandated to lead, promote and coordinate efforts to advance the full realization of women’s rights and opportunities.