The “Provincial Action Plan Preparation Workshop for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family” was held under the coordination of Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) and the Governorship of Gaziantep, in cooperation with the HKU Women and Family Application and Research Centre (KADMER) and the Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.
The workshop, hosted by HKU for the preparation of the Gaziantep Provincial Action Plan, was attended by Governor of Gaziantep Kemal Çeber, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, HKU Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, Gaziantep Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Umut Zeybek, KADMER Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Özgüner, Acting Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Zehra Ünal, Gaziantep Regional Director of the Presidency’s Communications Directorate Mücahit Taşkın, representatives of non-governmental organisations, and academics.
Emphasising in his opening speech that universities should not only produce academic knowledge but also act as centres that develop solutions to social problems, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli said: “Protecting and strengthening the family is vital for the sustainability and welfare of society. The declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” is a very important opportunity for creating awareness and sensitivity across the country. As Hasan Kalyoncu University, we regard it as our duty to lead such strategic work with a sense of social responsibility. From this perspective, KADMER, which operates within our university, has so far carried out many successful projects for empowering women, supporting the family structure and raising social awareness. KADMER’s active role in this workshop is also an important example of bringing together scientific knowledge and field experience. I believe the workshop will contribute to the creation of a feasible and effective Provincial Action Plan specific to Gaziantep.”
Governor of Gaziantep Kemal Çeber said: “The subject of the family is very special for us and one that we address with great care. It is also an area that everyone should care about. These events held within the 2025 Year of the Family are of great significance. In fact, as Gaziantep, last year, by the joint decision of our Metropolitan Municipality and Governorship, we declared 2024 the ‘Year of the Family in Gaziantep’ and organised many events within this framework. The workshop held here today is a very valuable part of this process. I believe the reports to come out of the workshop will provide us with a strong roadmap.”
Gaziantep Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Umut Zeybek said that, with the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family”, the scope of work aimed at strengthening the family has been expanded together in our province as well, and gave examples.
At the workshop, within the framework of the five strategic objectives set out in the Vision Document, namely “Protecting the Family in the Face of Global Risks and Demographic Transformation”, “Increasing the Effectiveness of Family-Oriented Social Policies and Services”, “Supporting the Family in the Digitalisation Process”, “Increasing the Resilience of Families to Disasters and Emergencies through Family-Sensitive Environmental Policies” and “Protecting and Strengthening Family Values”, and taking local needs into consideration, analyses of the current situation specific to the province of Gaziantep were carried out, the problems encountered were evaluated, and solution proposals and activities that could be undertaken towards the objectives were discussed.
