Turkey’s first Association of Single Mothers has been established. At its inaugural conference, supported by BAUEQUAL, various topics were discussed, including the status and situation of single mothers worldwide, their social and legal rights, social support provided for single mothers by local authorities, challenges faced by working single mothers in the workplace, proposed solutions, the insufficient rights of single mothers in the diversity and inclusivity efforts of institutions, inspiring stories of entrepreneurial single mothers, and the role of single mothers in civil society initiatives.
Speaking at the event, Association President Serap Yelkenci stated, “The launch of the Association of Single Mothers will be a starting point for the fight for gender equality. It is an important step towards putting more effort into creating a society where everyone has equal rights, maintaining this balance, and building an egalitarian future. We estimate that there are nearly 3.5 million single mothers in Turkey. Based on household average data, we estimate that nearly 7 million children are raised by single mothers. These figures do not include those involved in ongoing divorce cases. With the increasing divorce rate, this number increases every year. In the coming years, a large majority of society will be shaped by children raised by single mothers. Therefore, the well-being of single mothers physically, mentally, and emotionally will greatly influence the well-being of society.”
