First Lady Sibel Tatar emphasised at the inauguration of the TRNC 1st Family Workshop: "The right to protect the family is directly linked to the right of the child to be protected”
TRNC 1st Family Workshop, which has been organised under the auspices of the Presidency under the leadership of First Lady Sibel Tatar, is being held in partnership with the Presidential Social Support Committee and the Cyprus Foundations Administration (Evkaf).
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The workshop, which is being attended by 200 individuals from a total of 30 institutions, organisations and relevant ministries, also includes experts from the Ministry of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey. Topics to be discussed include domestic issues of families and the causes of divorce.
“Family is the foundation of society”
First Lady Sibel Tatar, addressing the workshop, commenced her speech by thanking President Ersin Tatar and the guests for their participation. Explaining the objective of the workshop, First Lady Tatar emphasised the role and importance of the institution of the family and its role in the social structure, adding: “The institution of the family is the foundation of society. The family, consisting of mother, father and child, is the group that ensures that children are brought up in the most appropriate way so that they can assume responsibilities within society."
The First Lady said: "Family is an institution, where an individual receives his/her first education and sees and learns the right and wrong," and she underlined that "the family is an environment, where there is unconditional love. Family plays a role in the shaping of the individual's personality, where we want the most accurate information and proper care and attention to be given."
Underlining that a “strong individual” also means a “strong society,” Sibel Tatar stated added: "The right to protect the family is directly linked to the right of the child to be protected. The preamble of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community”.
“It has been accepted that in order for the child's personality to develop fully and harmoniously, children should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,” Mrs Tatar said.
Noting that marriage and divorce are both natural and legal rights, First Lady Sibel Tatar drew attention to the fact that providing legal assistance to individuals, who have decided to divorce is indeed a human rights issue, adding that “it is the responsibility of the State to help families in order to being able to continue their marriage where possible”.
Explaining that the State should provide support from lawyers and psychologists so that children are not harmed during the legal process in divorce cases, First Lady Sibel Tatar said: “It is necessary to learn to be a mother, father and partner. The erosion of the institution of family is continuing both in the world and in our country. While marriage rates are decreasing, divorce rates are increasing.”
Divorce rate
First Lady Tatar drew attention to the statistical records, which showed that there were 1,204 marriages in 2016, and 951 marriages in 2020. She said seven out of 10 marriages were ending with divorce. She emphasised that the protection of the institution of the family is considered as a fundamental human rights issue, adding that “the protection of the family, which is the fabric of society itself, should be our national strategic goal, which can be achieved through various financial and moral support [services].”
In her speech, First Lady Sibel Tatar also revealed that a workshop on the “Rights of Children” will be held on March 21-22.
“I wish to convey the good news that we are also publishing the ‘Happy Children's Parent Handbook’,” Mrs Tatar said. “This booklet has been written by our three valuable teachers, who will answer many questions that will be discussed in the workshop. At the beginning of April, we shall start ‘the Parent School’ for parents in public schools,” she added.
First Lady Sibel Tatar concluded her speech by thanking all the participants and wishing informative and guiding workshop.