Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated: "We will implement the Project for Strengthening the Foster Family System in Türkiye. We will implement the Temporary Foster Family Program."

 Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş met with Ankara representatives of media organizations at 75th Year Nursing Home Care and Rehabilitation Center for persons with disabilities.

Reminding that the Ministry signed a protocol with the Ministry of National Education last week covering educational support in disaster areas, Göktaş said that there would be other studies within the scope of social improvement in earthquake areas, one of which was to be launched in August.

Drawing attention to the fact that disinformation was a serious problem of the whole world, especially disinformation via social media reached very dangerous dimensions, Göktaş said that the Ministry were acting to protect the rights of the victim and prevent further harm, but some media outlets were not paying due attention to the issue.

Göktaş said that during the AK Parti government, the Ministry attached great importance to the protection, strengthening and development of the individual, family and society.

Stating that the Ministry developed holistic and fair social service models and tried to reach every member of the society, Göktaş continued as follows:

"We have ensured that Türkiye strengthened and developed in the social sphere as well. We have protected the family. We considered the new generations. Women and children are under the protection of the Ministry. Persons with disabilities, older persons and those in need have been and continue to be taken care of. Martyrs' relatives and veterans are of great significance to the Ministry. Social welfare has increased. The innovations and services provided in the last 22 years are the first and only of their kind not only in Türkiye but also around the world."

 "We will definitely realize the goals of the 12th Development Plan 2024-2028"

Minister Göktaş emphasized that the Ministry would definitely realize the "12th Development Plan 2024-2028 Targets" within the framework of the 30-Year Perspective, in line with the "Vision 2053".

Stating that the Ministry would bring Social Service Center services to every district and reach millions of households all over Türkiye with the Family Social Support Program, Göktaş underlined that the Ministry would continue family-oriented training and counseling services with the understanding of "Strong Person, Strong Woman, Strong Family, and Strong Türkiye".

Pointing out that the Ministry would strengthen the harmony between family and work life and expand quality and easily accessible kindergarten and pre-school care/education opportunities, Göktaş said that the Ministry aimed to be the leading public institution to implement flexible and remote working practices in order to increase women's participation in business life.

 "We will launch the Family-Based Citizenship Salary application process"

Göktaş also stated that the Ministry would implement the Income Supplementary Family Support System, guaranteeing a certain level of income for households, and continued as follows:

"We will launch the Family-Based Citizenship Salary application process." The Ministry will support the retirement of housewives through the Family Protection Shield Program; develop and expand the use of specialised shelter and care services for women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons; increase the quality and quantity of shelter, care and rehabilitation institutions. The effective implementation of the 4th National Action Plan on Combating Violence against Women will be achieved and the preparatory work for the 5th National Action Plan will be implemented.

The Ministry will increase the effectiveness of women in social life and decision-making mechanisms. The net enrollment rate of girls in all levels of formal education and the female literacy rate will reach 100%. We will facilitate women's business start-up and development processes, encourage them to participate more in e-commerce platforms, and empower them through cooperatives."

 "The Ministry will implement the Project for Strengthening the Foster Family System"

 Göktaş said that the Ministry would develop systems for the early detection of forced and early marriages and raise public awareness on the issue.

Göktaş stated that the Ministry would further strengthen the monitoring and evaluation activities in combating violence against women and noted that:

"We will continue to implement the zero tolerance policy. The Ministry will ensure that ŞÖNIMs and women's guesthouses provide more services that are qualified. Every opportunity will be mobilized for the children to grow up in a family environment as confident, safe and healthy persons with national and humanitarian values. Project for Strengthening the Foster Family System will be implemented in Türkiye. Temporary Foster Family Program will be established. The Ministry will implement the Child Rights Strategy Document and Action Plan with the contributions and cooperation of all stakeholders providing services in the field of children."

Pointing out that the Ministry would organize "Children's Councils" to discuss policies, practices and targets for children, Göktaş said that the Ministry would support children's development in academic, social, sportive, artistic and vocational aspects and ensure that children grew up as well-equipped persons.

Stating that the Ministry would establish Neighborhood Children's Workshops providing training in areas such as foreign languages, robotic coding and three-dimensional printers, Göktaş emphasized that the Ministry would work with zero tolerance on violence, neglect and abuse of children, and would periodically implement the Child Survey Türkiye within the scope of evidence-based development of policies and services for children.

Minister Göktaş said that the Ministry would fight addiction more effectively, identify the risks that children and young people faced through digital media and intervene in harmful content.

"We will increase the number of Active Living Centers for Persons with Disabilities to 150"

Underlining that the Ministry would implement practices that would enable citizens with disabilities and their families to live their lives as active members of social life and build an accessible society, Göktaş continued as follows:

"We will increase the number of Active Living Centers for Persons with Disabilities to 150. We will complete the legislative work in cooperation with the relevant institutions to create an employment model at home by bringing those who care for persons with disabilities and older people at home under insurance. The number of Care, Rehabilitation and Family Counseling Centers for Persons with Disabilities will reach 130. We will create and implement the 2nd National Action Plan on Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder together with all stakeholders."

"We will develop special programs for a more productive ageing process"

 Stating that the Ministry would support the healthy and active ageing of senior citizens with their families, Göktaş said: "The Ministry will increase the number of nursing homes and Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centers to 180. The 2030 Ageing Vision Document and Action Plan will be announced and implemented with strong cooperation. Special programs will be developed to facilitate the access of older persons to services through digitalization and other technologies and to have a more productive ageing process."

Göktaş stated that the Ministry would ensure the employment of the widows and orphans of martyrs in the private sector, and that they would enable the relatives of martyrs, veterans and relatives of veterans to travel free of charge all over Türkiye with a single card, and include the relatives of martyrs, veterans and relatives of veterans in the All Türkiye Card Project by signing a protocol with PTT.

Minister Göktaş said, "All this vision we are planning to put forward is to realize the strengthening of a family-oriented system. It is the duty of ours to make each member of the family stronger and to reinforce their social support systems."

"Protection from Digital Risks Training was provided to 20.000 parents and more than 14.000 personnel"

 Upon a question about child abuse and violence in digital media, Göktaş stated that there was a unit within the Ministry scanning digital media.

Explaining that the Ministry carried out activities, in line with this, to create materials, organize trainings, and strengthen child, individual and family relations in the face of addiction, Göktaş said, "In addition to this, the incidents of violence in digital media and digital addiction, as you know, is actually a central issue today. We are fighting all kinds of battles against the incidents of violence and child abuse in digital media."

Minister Göktaş stated that within the scope of protecting children from digital risks, awareness training was provided to parents, nursery and day care center employees receiving services from Private Nursery and Day Care Centers affiliated to the Ministry.

Göktaş reminded that a parent guide on the protection of children from digital risks was created and published on the website of the General Directorate of Child Services in order to contribute to minimizing the negative effects of digital media, and added that as of June 2023, approximately 20.000 parents and more than 14.000 personnel had been trained on Protection from Digital Risks.

Referring to the decision to launch a mobilization campaign against addiction with the participation of all segments of society in 2021, Göktaş said, "In the end, this is also an addiction. Even though we use phones and tablets today, the more children use them and are unable to control the content, the more deeply we all struggle. When children spend a little too much time on digital media, we encounter anger management issues. Moreover, the inability to control the content is a serious problem. The Ministry will also develop different projects related to the issue."

Göktaş stated that parental guidance in the selection of toys and books was aimed to function as protective factors against digital addiction by encouraging the right and effective time spent with play, but pointed out that the fight against digital media was a struggle that was carried out by all segments of society.

"The Ministry wants to implement the project following its finalization"

 Minister Göktaş reminded in the AK Parti election declaration prepared in 2023 that innovative mechanisms would be developed to strengthen the family and that new and visionary practices in social policies would be implemented with the Family Protection Shield Program in this context.

Explaining that a bank titled Family and Youth Bank would be established to finance the Family Protection Shield Program and that one of the main sources of income of the bank would be natural resources, Göktaş continued as follows:

"We call it the Family Protection Shield and the Family and Youth Bank, but under the Family Protection Shield Program, mainly housewives are entitled to pension premium support and the right to a share of depreciation. It is envisaged to support activities and projects within the scope of ensuring the participation of at least 1 person from each family in employment, encouraging new marriages, and developing new social service models.

As regards to the Family and Youth Bank, as you know, there are many stakeholders. We, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, are working on playing our part, and the other stakeholders are working hard for their part. This is because it does not only concern the Ministry of Family and Social Services. However, we hope to finalize this in the future and we want to realize this hopeful project that we have entrusted to young generations."

Göktaş responded to the question "Is there a clear timetable?" by answering, "Well, we have other stakeholders. We do not have a time range. In the coming periods... We are currently working on the issue in detail and can produce modeling as digital banking, but of course, conditions, concepts, all of these are not only related to the Ministry, but also to other ministries, so we will schedule it together with their fields of work and share it with the public."

"We continue to take measures to increase penalties"

 Upon a question on violence against women, Minister Göktaş stated that it was an issue that pained everyone.

Stating that violence against women was on the agenda not only in Türkiye but all over the world, Göktaş made the following statements:

"We are, of course, adopting a multidimensional and holistic approach with the principle of zero tolerance to combat violence. First, let me emphasize by saying... We have constitutionally guaranteed the principle of equality and affirmative action in fundamental laws. We have created a strong legal infrastructure for the protection of survivors of violence and prevention of violence through Law No. 6284 and secondary legislation. We continue to work to strengthen the law and increase its success in practice. Measures to increase the penalties for femicides and acts of violence against women continue to be taken."

Emphasizing that the Ministry worked intensively and sensitively both on legal platforms and in practice, Göktaş said that within the framework of awareness raising activities, the Ministry organized trainings and seminars for public personnel, mukhtars and other groups, and prepared and implemented national and provincial action plans to combat violence against women.

Pointing out that the aim would be to carry out a special study in whichever province there was an increase in cases or in which province there would be a special situation related to violence, Göktaş said:

"On July 1, 2021, the National Action Plan on Combating Violence Against Women entered into force. As you know, this national action plan covers the years 2021-2025. Moreover, annual activity plans are being prepared in order to use and monitor it more effectively. Under the coordination of the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Health and the Presidency of Religious Affairs, we have signed the activity plan for 2022 in combating violence against women and started to implement it."

Stating that women actively used the ALO 183 Social Support Line and KADES mobile application in combating violence against them, Göktaş said, "We conduct periodic studies on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of femicides. Data on femicides and cases of violence recorded by the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command are periodically shared with the public. The Ministry of Justice's UYAP system, POLNET and the data system of the Gendarmerie General Command are other sources from which data is collected."

"We stand by anyone suffering and wherever there is a victim"

Minister Göktaş emphasized that she would show the same sensitivity here as she did in the Brussels Parliament on violence against women and femicides.

Upon the following question, "Is there any possibility of amending or abolishing Law No. 6284? There have also been allegations that the issue of 'the victim's statement is essential' disrupts family unity. What are your thoughts on the issue?", Göktaş shared the following:

"Of course, it is out of the question. My position on this is very clear and unambiguous. We stand by anyone suffering and wherever there is a victim. We are the Ministry of Family and Social Services. We stand by women when they are victim. We stand by children when they are victim. We stand by men when they are victim. The issue is, of course, to take the person who is subjected to violence under immediate protection, to provide their needs immediately."

Emphasizing that strengthening the family was one of the priority areas of the Ministry, Göktaş continued her words as follows:

"However, I believe that this discussion should be handled separately from Law No. 6284. It is necessary to strengthen the family ties, yes. We work on different channels for this purpose and share them with the society. However, there can be no such discussion that 6284 is an important law of Türkiye. On the other hand, certain victimizations arising from the decision should be addressed. I also care about the issue of indefinite alimony. Some citizens have gotten married in the 1990s. The practice of paying alimony indefinitely cannot be acceptable. Therefore, we need to address and pay attention to it as well. It is necessary to overcome if there is any suffering. We aim to work on the issue with other ministries."

Stating that it was necessary to take deterrent measures regarding violence against women, Göktaş said that the Ministry closely monitored social media posts and intervened immediately.

Pointing to the need for rehabilitation for people prone to violence, Göktaş said, "It is necessary to use this as a deterrent. Violent people do not realize that they need to undergo some kind of education or rehabilitation. Unfortunately, women sometimes do not demand that we implement Law No. 6284 when harmed. We see it in the field. Women say, ‘I want to return home to be with my husband’. This is another issue."

Göktaş stated that the Ministry overcame the safety and economic concerns of women staying in women's guesthouses and that Türkiye was ahead of many European countries with its efforts to solve the issue. Göktaş added that the efforts on combatting violence against women in Türkiye were revolutionary.

"This law does not need to be amended"

 Minister Göktaş stated that the Ministry also supported the men who were victimized and said, "We need to hear them as well. After all, we are the ministry of 'family'. We are a ministry that appeals to women, men, youth, older persons, the persons with disabilities. If there is a cause for suffering here, we need to listen to him/her as well."

Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated that the Ministry of Justice officials discussed the issue of indefinite alimony and Law No. 6284, and that the aspects concerning the ministry were discussed. 

Stating that Law No. 6284 did not need to be amended, Göktaş said, "However, if there is a flaw in practice, we need to address it. These are not flaws occurring in the law."

"I want you to know that the Ministry is closely monitoring these kinds of incidents"

 Minister Göktaş also made an assessment about a channel on Youtube that targeted children. Stating that the Ministry closely monitored such incidents, Göktaş continued as follows:

"We have also watched and evaluated on social media platforms that a YouTuber aimed at children with their content, causing reactions. It has been assessed to have a negative impact on the best interests and development of children. Today, a content blocking order has been issued on the matter. We cannot shut down the platform, but we can prevent the content. We are working very quickly on the issue. The incidents of violence on social media are managed the same way and at the same speed. The Ministry intervene very quickly to such content."