The joint event, organized within the 16 Days of Activism campaign drew attention to the opportunities and risks that the digital world poses for women and girls

Ankara, 9 December 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye and Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences organized an event today as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign to raise awareness on combating violence against women and discuss the opportunities and risks posed by digitalization in this context.

The “Violence Against Women, Digitalization, Technological Transformation: Opportunities and Risks” event including two panel sessions was held at Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences. Approximately 50 participants, mostly students, had the opportunity to learn about UNDP's approach on gender equality and women's empowerment as well as digital violence and digital opportunities from expert speakers.

Prof. Dr. Orhan Çelik, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University and Mustafa Ali Yurdupak, UNDP Türkiye Assistant Resident Representative (Programme) also attended the event and met with the students. 

“Throughout its history, Faculty of Political Sciences has always addressed social issues. Today, it is very meaningful and a source of pride for us that our Faculty's first cooperation with UNDP is within the 16 Days of Activism campaign,” said Prof. Dr. Orhan Çelik, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University.

“While digital transformation creates new opportunities for women's economic and social empowerment, it also poses risks to create new forms and tools of violence against women. As powerful enablers of development, digital tools should help us build equitable, resilient and prosperous societies and combat violence against women, the world's oldest and most widespread human rights violation,” said UNDP Türkiye Assistant Resident Representative (Programme) Mustafa Ali Yurdupak. 

In the first panel titled “What is digital violence and how to combat it?”, moderated by Deniz Şilliler Tapan, Communications Specialist, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Portfolio at UNDP Türkiye, the panelists Nurcihan Temur, Gender-Based Digital Violence Expert, and Ceren Kalay Eken, Lawyer and Volunteer at the Women's Solidarity Foundation, emphasized the need to raise awareness about the risks posed by today's rapidly transforming digital world. Stating that digital violence is a serious problem that violates women's right to be safe in the online world, the panelists called for action to tackle inequalities, sexist stereotypes and impunity that trigger violence, in solidarity and with effective policies.

In the second panel titled “Opportunities in and through digital”, moderated by Dr. Nihal Eminoğlu from Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences, the panelists Arzu Karaarslan Azizoğlu, Local Economic Development Projects Coordinator at UNDP Türkiye, Ayşegül Yalçın Eriş, Deputy Executive Director at Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (SGDD-ASAM), Gökçen Durutaş, Fundraising and Communications Director at Foundation for the Support of Women's Work (KEDV) and Büşra Sünetci, Social Work Specialist from Women's Solidarity Foundation drew attention to the opportunities for women created by digitalization and how to bridge digital inequalities. The panelists emphasized the importance of ensuring equal access to digital tools for women and girls. They also stated that improving digital literacy of women and girls can empower them and reveal their potential to change the societies and the world.

UNDP Türkiye Gender Analyst Dr. Aslı Çoban informed the students about 16 Days of Activism, violence against women and UNDP's approach to women's empowerment, and highlighted that the most effective way to achieve a better world is through ending gender-based violence and working for the safety and empowerment of women and girls. İpek Özel, Human Resources Administrator at UNDP Türkiye informed the students about UNDP's mission to support Türkiye’s sustainable development and the opportunities to work at UNDP.

For more information: Bahar Paykoç, Communications Officer, bahar.paykoc@undp.org