Turkish advocates highlight gap between legal and social equality for women

On the anniversary of the Turkish Civil Code, advocates are highlighting the gap between legal equality and social reality for women in Turkey. While the 1926 reforms established legal rights regarding marriage, inheritance, and divorce, experts argue that true economic and social equality remains unfulfilled.

Prof. Dr. Kenan Özcan of the Atatürkist Thought Association noted that Turkey's female labor force participation rate stands at 32.1%, significantly lower than the European Union average of 71.3% and the global average of 46.5%. He emphasized that legal equality exists on paper, but domestic responsibilities and workplace inequalities prevent full economic integration.

Aydeniz Alisbah Tuskan further addressed ongoing challenges, including gender-based violence and the necessity of secularism in protecting women's rights. She reported that 294 women were killed in 2025, often due to decisions regarding their personal lives. Tuskan also raised concerns regarding child marriages, noting that approximately 10,000 girls were married within a year, despite the legal marriage age being 18.