Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated, "In 2002, the number of public personnel with disabilities was 5.777, while in the last 20 years this number has increased approximately 12 times equaling to 68.396. The number of public personnel with disabilities will exceed 70.000 with 2.392 placements to be made today."

Minister Göktaş spoke at the Placement Ceremony of Citizens with Disabilities in Public Institutions held at the Ministry.

Stating that with the placement, not only citizens with disabilities were employed, but awareness was also raised on the issue, Göktaş said that an equal and accessible life for all would only be possible if citizens with disabilities were more involved in everyday life.

Göktaş said that many people who could not receive education and training or go travel beyond their streets due to their disabilities now feel freer both economically and socially, and that as the Ministry, social policies were developed without leaving anyone behind and the development journey were continued, and that important steps were taken in domestic legislation, especially the international conventions signed to protect the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and the Constitution.

Minister Göktaş stated the following:

"In 2005, the Ministry protected the rights of citizens with disabilities with the Disability Law.

In 2007, the Republic of Türkiye became a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2010, the rights of persons with disabilities were included in the Constitution. As you know, the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 2020 as the Year of Accessibility. The 2030 Barrier-Free Vision Document, which became an integral part of the social policies, was shared with the public in 2021. The Ministry is also continuing efforts to make the General Directorate of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly into two separate general directorates. We have done all this so that persons with disabilities can participate freely, independently and effectively in all areas of life."

Number of public personnel with disabilities has increased almost 12-fold in 20 years

Stating that the Constitution's principle of equality as well as the principles of positive discrimination stipulated by the regulations formed the basis of employment policies for persons with disabilities, Göktaş emphasized that the Public Personnel Selection Examination for the Persons with Disabilities, which was launched in 2012, was the most important factor in increasing the number of public personnel with disabilities.

Göktaş said, "42.537 citizens with disabilities have been placed as public personnel since 2012. In 2002, the number of public personnel with disabilities working in the public sector was 5.777, while in the last 20 years this number has increased approximately 12 times equaling to 68.396. The number of public personnel with disabilities will exceed 70.000 with 2.392 placements to be made today."

Minister Göktaş stated that efforts were continued to increase the quality in addition to these developments in terms of number, and in this context, public institutions were obliged to design their facilities in accordance with the accessibility of persons with disabilities, and arrangements were made to facilitate and support the work of employees with disabilities.

Noting that the solution to the challenges of persons with disabilities would be possible only if all segments of society acted with a common understanding, Göktaş said, "I would like to sincerely thank all institutions and their representatives who have supported us in this process. We will continue to support the employment of persons with disabilities for a more inclusive world."

"We will hire 8.000 contracted personnel in the near future"

Minister Göktaş stated that she wanted to share some good news of another placement and added the following:

"The decree signed by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will allow us to recruit the highest number of personnel to the Ministry at one time so far. We will soon hire 8.000 more contracted personnel to provide more support to the earthquake region and improve the quality of services, further expanding the family."

Göktaş said that the details about the purchase would be announced soon.

Nilüfer Kızıltan, placed in 2023 after taking EKPSS in 2022, thanked those who contributed to the organizers of the exam.

Following the speeches, Göktaş pressed the lottery button in the presence of a notary public with ÖSYM President Bayram Ali Ersoy, Nilüfer Kızıltan and other protocol members to determine the places where persons with disabilities would be placed to work in public institutions.