The First Summit of Turkic Women Parliamentarians, organized under the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), took place in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), hosted by the TRNC Assembly.
The summit, held under the theme “Education, Culture and Entrepreneurship,” continued throughout the day with the participation of high-level women lawmakers from across the Turkic world.
In his opening remarks, Speaker of the TRNC Parliament Ziya Öztürkler emphasized that empowering women in areas such as education, culture, and entrepreneurship is key to societal advancement.
He underlined the summit’s symbolic importance in amplifying the visibility and strength of women, and called for the TRNC’s transition from observer to full membership in the Turkic world organizations.
Öztürkler also reminded participants that Türkiye and the TRNC have taken major steps to enhance gender equality, noting it as not only a matter of rights but also a prerequisite for development.
Following a group photo, Deputy Speaker Fazilet Özdenefe expressed her satisfaction with the summit, stating that the platform provided by TURKPA is a fertile ground for increased female participation and collaboration across the Turkic world.
She highlighted that girls’ access to education is crucial for social transformation and said the summit could serve as a turning point for recognizing women’s representation as an agent of change.
TURKPA Women Parliamentarians Group Chair and Azerbaijani MP Tamam Jafarova described the summit as an important step toward joint action and increasing the role of women across Turkic nations. Turkish MP Zeynep Yıldız also addressed the gathering, calling the event a historic milestone in women’s political representation and a clear testament to the TRNC’s inseparable place within the Turkic world.
Yıldız said, “This summit held in the TRNC is not just a diplomatic activity—it is a reaffirmation of the TRNC’s rightful place in our shared heritage.”
UBP MP Resmiye Eroğlu Canaltay highlighted the summit as a platform for not only exchanging ideas but also showcasing cooperation and solidarity among women of the Turkic world.
Recalling that the TRNC joined the Organization of Turkic States as an observer in 2022, she noted that this summit strengthens shared history and cultural bonds and expressed hope for further support from the Turkic world.
TURKPA Secretary-General Mehmet Süreyya Er concluded the opening remarks by reiterating TURKPA’s support for increasing women’s participation in politics and society, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to empowering women across Turkic communities. The summit has now moved on to its working sessions.brt
