Derya YANIK, Minister of Family and Social Services participated in the opening of the online training workshop held in cooperation with the Ministry and the Islamic Countries Statistics, Economic and Social Research and Training Center (SESRIC)

Minister Derya YANIK participated in the opening of the online Training Workshop on “Health and Social Care Policies towards Supporting Independent Living for People with Disabilities" held in cooperation with the Ministry and the Islamic Countries Statistics, Economic and Social Research and Training Center (SESRIC), with the participation of representatives from public institutions in the field of disability of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Derya YANIK, Minister of Family and Social Services, stating that they are working to increase the quality of life of persons with disabilities in all areas with the slogan "Let the people live so that the state can live", said: "Home health service program, home care support program, home care pension, home type social service organizations and community mental health. We are expanding our centres and supportive day care services throughout the country."

General Director of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Orhan KOÇ, and Nebil DABUR, General Director of SESRIC, attended the opening of the workshop. 

In her speech, Minister YANIK stated that every soul is a special value and entrusted by Allah, and noted that knowing the value of trust and establishing a dignified life is one of the most basic human rights. Saying that empathy, self-sacrifice and benevolence are among the most important virtues of the inherited civilization, YANIK stated that they developed their perspective in the services and activities of the ministry based on this inclusiveness and value system.

Pointing out that they determine the services according to whoever needs what they need, Minister YANIK said that all segments of women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and young make plans in line with their needs in all areas from health to education, from working life to social life, and to ensure full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in life, She reminded that as the government, they enacted the Turkish Disability Act in 2005 in order to make it easier for them to be a natural part of social life. Minister YANIK reminded that for the first time in Turkey, they created the law of persons with disabilities with 1500 articles and stated that Turkey was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, under the presidency of President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN.

"We continue our work with the goal of '100 percent accessibility'"

Minister YANIK stated that they made reforms in disability policies with the principle of positive discrimination added to Article 10 of the Constitution in 2010. Pointing out that accessibility practices, from education to employment, are one of the issues that directly affect the participation of persons with disabilities in social life, Minister YANIK said:

" We continue our work on buildings, open spaces, public transportation vehicles and systems, information and communication technologies without slowing down. Within the scope of accessibility, we have made it compulsory for public buildings to be accessible, such as pavements, pedestrian crossings, parks, public transportation vehicles, and information and communication systems. We have prepared a guide on this subject and set the standards. Since 2011, we have provided trainings for all parties on accessibility. In connection with the importance of the subject, 2020 was declared as the 'Year of Accessibility' by our President. Last year, under the auspices of the esteemed lady Emine ERDOĞAN, we organized the Accessibility Award Ceremony with a wide content for the first time in the world with the slogan 'Accessibility is for Everyone'. We continue our work with the goal of 'one hundred percent accessibility'."

Emphasizing that they continue to work to build a society where persons with disabilities can realize their potential and fully participate in economic, social and cultural life, YANIK emphasized that they strive to raise the living standards of persons with disabilities and all vulnerable groups and to ensure social welfare.

"We are working to increase the quality of life of persons with disabilities in every field"

Minister YANIK pointed out that Kovid-19 had negative effects on the ability of persons with disabilities to live independently, and said: " Despite this, as Turkey, we strive to provide our services within the framework of an integrated service model in order to encourage individuals with disabilities to live independently. As a reflection of our civilization and ancient culture, Turkey attaches special importance to the development of policies that strengthen the individual and the family. In this direction, we work to ensure that persons with disabilities can continue their lives in their own social and family environments.

We are developing new service models for persons with disabilities who are the most difficult to independently participate in society and who need care. We act with an understanding that will support people's independent living and enable the transition from institution-oriented services to community-based services. We are working to increase the quality of life of persons with disabilities in every field, with the motto 'Let the people live so that the state can live'. We are expanding the home health service program, home care support program, home care pension, home-type social service institutions and community mental health centres and supportive day services throughout the country."

Minister YANIK stated that he believes that all the posts in the meeting will be a guide for the Islamic geography and that he thinks the two-day program is very valuable not only for the disabled, but also for the welfare and comfort of all segments of society, especially the elderly, sick, pregnant and women with children.

After the opening speeches, the workshop continued with the presentations of Tayyar KUZ, Head of Research, Development and Statistics Department of the General Directorate of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Önal İNALTEKİN, Deputy General Director of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, and Ali GÜNGÖR, Family and Social Services Expert. The workshop, where representatives of Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Morocco, Uganda, and representatives of the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD) and Asian Disability Forum (ADF) will share information on practices and services that support the independent life of individuals with disabilities, ended on February 10.