Social service models carried out by the Ministry of Family and Social Services to protect and support the care and rehabilitation of people who require special policies, especially women, older persons, persons with disabilities and children, are also being generalized in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The “Cyprus Cooperation and Action Plan” was prepared within the scope of the 2022 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement signed between Türkiye and the TRNC. The Ministry has accelerated its efforts to realize the objectives in the action plan, which includes policies for determining the needs in the field of social services and social assistance and strengthening the status of women.

As part of the action plan, in August, the TRNC Minister of Labour and Social Security Hasan Taçoy and a 14-person Cyprus delegation paid a working visit to the Ministry to examine the services on site. While meetings were held with TRNC officials on legislation, family-themed studies and practices, ideas were exchanged. In addition, field visits were made to the institutions affiliated to the ministry, and the Cypriot authorities were informed about the services of the organizations.

7 Cypriot veterans made various visits to the TRNC

Many policies and actions have been implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry to strengthen cooperation and share knowledge and experience on policies and services for older persons, persons with disabilities, women, children, veterans, relatives of veterans and martyrs. In this context, 7 Cypriot veterans from 7 regions of Türkiye, who participated in the Cyprus Peace Operation, visited the TRNC and met with the youth, with the project of “Cyprus Veterans Meet with Cyprus Youth in Blue Homeland”.

A delegation of Ministry experts under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services, Rıdvan Duran, went to the TRNC last week and made study visits to points such as kindergartens and rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities. In addition, joint strategies and collaborations for women entrepreneurs were evaluated by meeting with Turkish entrepreneurial businesswomen.

Women's Empowerment Strategy Document and Action Plan introduced

The Women's Empowerment Strategy Document and Action Plan (2018-2023) was introduced in order to transfer experience in the field of women in our country. Detailed information was given about the “Young Women Who Create Their Future” Project, which was implemented within the scope of empowering women outside of education and employment fields. Consultations were held on the applicability of studies similar to the activities in the project in the TRNC.

In addition, within the scope of strengthening women's cooperatives, women entrepreneurs were visited on-site and examples of good practices were presented to TRNC authorities.

  Course programs will be created within the scope of Family Education Program (AEP)

Other policies and actions planned to be completed by the end of the year within the scope of the action plan are as follows:

It will be ensured that supply-oriented services for children at risk will be generalized.

In line with the Family Education Program (AEP), course programs will be created to meet the needs of families in the TRNC. Support will be provided to carry out social research such as the Türkiye Family Structure Survey (TAYA), Türkiye Divorce Causes Survey, in cooperation with universities and relevant institutions in the TRNC, in this country as well.

Technical support will be provided for the development of the Family Counselling service model, the creation of the Social Service Centres (SHM) model and the implementation of the Family Social Support Program (ASDEP).

Information on active ageing will be shared

Information will be shared on basic policies, rights and services on disability and old age, and awareness activities for active ageing. Technical support will be provided for the care and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities and older persons, as well as for ensuring accessibility. In addition, technical assistance will be provided on the determination of social assistance programs in the TRNC with the joint working group.