A series of events were held at Tarsus University to mark International Women's Day on March 8. The programs, organized with the contributions of various departments and student groups at the university, addressed different topics related to women from both academic and social perspectives. Within this scope, the Tarsus University Law Society organized a conference titled “Strong Women, Strong Society: Women in Social Life and the Legal System on International Women's Day, March 8.” The event addressed women's position in social life, their rights and achievements in the legal system, and the fight against violence against women.
Among the speakers at the program was Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Tuğba Yolcu, who stated that they had come together to remember one of the most important social struggles in human history. Expressing that the true development of a society is closely related to the position of women in society, Yolcu emphasized that the extent to which women are involved in education, science, and decision-making mechanisms is an important indicator of development. Noting that women have made important contributions to the world of science, Yolcu pointed out that the position of women in society is not only an individual issue, but also a political, economic, and social one. She stated that Turkey has taken important steps in terms of women's rights throughout its history and that this process took shape under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Another speaker at the conference, Attorney Medine Melis Koçak, Tarsus District Representative of the Mersin Bar Association Women's Rights Center, provided information about state policies and legal regulations aimed at protecting women in Turkey. Koçak emphasized the importance of the measures taken under Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence Against Women, which is one of the important steps taken to protect women and girls, and stated that women's right to vote and be elected, as well as the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code, are also major gains in terms of women's rights. Police Officer Cemile Güvenç, who was a guest speaker at the conference, informed participants about the work of the Tarsus District Police Department and the KADES project, which was launched in 2018.
Another event held as part of International Women's Day on March 8 was a panel discussion organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences entitled “The Profile of Women in Turkey Based on Data: A Multidimensional Assessment in Education, Politics, Science, Technology, and Social Life.” The panel comprehensively addressed the situations and obstacles women face in their social and professional lives in light of the data.
The panel was moderated by Associate Professor Özlem İpek, with Dr. Tuğba Aydın Halisoğlu, Research Assistant Başak Işıldaklı Kırşan, Research Assistant Zeliha Sezer Ergin, and Research Assistant Sidar Ağduk serving as speakers. The panel discussed the position of women in social life around the world, focusing on the glass ceiling syndrome, which refers to the invisible barriers encountered in professional life, and evaluated the structural barriers women face in their career journeys through this concept. In addition, the panel addressed the situation of women in the areas of health, education, and employment, sharing comparative data with men. The current situation in Turkey was evaluated from a multidimensional perspective under various headings such as women's participation in decision-making mechanisms, disability, family life, and sports.
As part of the events, the Theater Group staged a play titled “Bizim Ne Haddimize?” (How Dare We?), which drew attention to the social position of women. In addition, the Social Transformation Group organized a flower-making workshop, while the Social Services Group distributed flowers in the Yarenlik Area as part of the “Bir Çiçek Bir Tebessüm” (A Flower, A Smile) event.