COLOMBO: Türkiye has a long history for promoting equal opportunities for both men and women. From early on, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our nation, recognized the importance of women in the development of a society. With the establishment of the Republic, Turkish women were bestowed with several political rights including the right to vote and be elected in municipal elections in 1930, the right to elect and be elected as a Mukhtar in 1933, and finally the right to vote and be elected in general elections in 1934. Notably, these rights were granted well ahead of many European countries.
One of our institutions that caters the training of top female bureaucrats is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, of which I am proud to be a member. A diplomat is regarded as a diplomat and there is no such thing as a man or woman diplomat. Moreover, there is no distinction based on gender, difficult/easy geography, or post-harrowing circumstances when Ministry members are appointed abroad. Similarly there is no salary difference between male and female diplomats. Primary criteria is the ability to do our duties in the country we are deployed to. This uniformity is also evident when looking at the countries I have previously served and the topics I was in charge while I was at the headquarters.
It is noteworthy to mention that Foreign Minister H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu considerably supports women diplomats to reach higher positions in the Ministry. There has been a notable increase in the number of female Ambassadors and Consul Generals during his term as the Foreign Minister.
Unfortunately on the other side, there are certain individuals who are against seeing women rising to greater positions in any society, whether they do it covertly or out in the open. I see education as a powerful tool and one thing that must be prioritized if this mentality is to vanish.
Finally, it should also be noted that the appointment of my distinguished colleague Ambassador H.E. Hasanthi Dissanayake to Ankara and my own appointment to Colombo both demonstrates the value placed on women in both countries.