Memo: EU-Turkey: With Minister Şahin about progress on women’s rights

Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, met with Turkish Minister of Family and Social Policies, Fatma Şahin in Brussels 14 February 2013.

Commissioner Füle underlined the importance the Commission and the EU in general attach to the promotion of women's rights and gender equality both in the Member States and in partner countries, in particular in the EU candidate and aspirant countries. He appreciated the initiatives Minister Şahın has taken during her term of office, notably through the adoption in March last year of the Law on the Protection of Family and Prevention of Violence.

The Commissioner also expressed his full support for her reform efforts and committed to increase the support for them. He recalled that apart from combating violence against women, access to employment and access to education and political representation are also important aspects of enhancing women's rights ın Turkey.

ESO: Background information: Women's rights in Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-womens-rights-in-turkey/

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