President Ersin Tatar statement on March 8 International Women’s Day
International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8. For us this year it has coincided at a time when we are trying to heal the wounds inflicted on our hearts by the earthquake disaster whilst pursuing the legal rights of the lives we lost.
Indeed, this year we are commemorating International Women’s Day in the shadow of great sorrow following the devastating earthquake, whilst trying to heal the deep wounds in our hearts and in a spirit of empathy, solidarity and social unity which exists in abundance in our nation.
As we commemorate this day, I would like also to underline the importance of recognising the social gender equality mechanism within our modern and democratic State. International Women’s Day is about paying tribute to our women and ensuring that women have a voice in all areas, from education to business life, from politics to all areas in the society. It is a day when the will is put forward and shared within all the institutions and organisations of the state, and supported by the public.
I would like to emphasize that, as the President, I am determined to continue with much more confident steps today, as the President, the will and the policy I have put forth to raise the status of our women to the same level as in contemporary countries during my duties as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Finance, and Prime Minister.
As the President, I would like to emphasise that I am determined to continue – with much more confident steps today, the will and the policy I have always pursued when I served as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Finance and Prime Minister which is to raise the status of our women to the same level as in contemporary countries.
I believe that the Turkish Cypriot women, who have set an example to the whole world with their knowledge, vision and courage in every step of social, political and economic life, from the days of struggle for social existence of the Turkish Cypriot People to the present, will continue to be a symbol of solidarity and courage in the future. Our women will continue to lead the way of putting forward and carrying out pioneering projects that would benefit our country, allow our people to live with contemporary norms and values and for our state to stand firm and last forever.
In the spirit of the fact that strong women create a strong society and a strong society create a strong State, I reiterate that I will continue to support the much more effective representation of our women in every field. Furthermore, I would like to commemorate the mothers of those who were martyred for our sovereign State, and once again convey my condolences to the families for the loss of our loved ones in the recent devastating earthquakes in Motherland Türkiye.