State Minister Annette Widmann-Mauz guest of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Turkey - Foundation Office Turkey
Expert talk
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On 17 December 2018, KAS Turkey organized a discussion event on "Women and Migration" with Minister of State Annette Widmann-Mauz and Turkish Minister for Family, Labor and Social Affairs Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk. Sven-Joachim Irmer, Director of KAS Turkey, chaired the event with a welcome speech and a brief introduction to the event topic.
In her speech, the Minister of State emphasized how much she cares about the good relations between the two countries and that it is indispensable to remain in constant dialogue especially in challenging times like these. Germany and Turkey have adopted the United Nations Global Migration Pact to continue to solve international challenges such as migration and flight together. Since the EU-Turkey Agreement 2016, the EU supports Turkey on migration challenges and in this context, Annette Widmann-Mauz thanked the Turkish Minister for the impressive performance of Turkey.
Based on the story of Nagila, a young Afghan refugee woman, the Minister of State illustrated all phases of flight to successful integration in Germany. The greatest wish of the refugee women is a life in stability and security, good prospects for their children, but also access to education and work. Women play an important role in their families and shape next generations. Thus integration cannot succeed without women. Germany wants to facilitate integration by promoting language, education, women's empowerment and access to the labor market for refugees. In conclusion, she pointed out that events like “Women and Migration” opens up opportunities to learn from each other.
Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, the Turkish Minister for Family, Labor and Social Affairs also emphasized the strong German-Turkish connections and the importance of global cooperation. Turkey is home to 3.5 million Syrians and 71% of them are women and children. Minister Selçuk introduced aid to refugees from Turkey, such as accommodation, meals, medical care, education and much more. She added that Turkey's desire is that all countries support refugees in the same way. Help is a moral issue and deeply rooted in faith and in the Turkish history. Women and children always come first.
The next day began with a meeting with representatives of METU University, TED University, GIZ Ankara and IOM Turkey where the current situation of refugees and the associated challenges in Turkey were discussed. The migration relations between Germany and Turkey were discussed at the following meeting with Mr. Abdullah Eren, Chairman of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). He explained his institution's projects and activities as well as their transnational partnerships with Turkish NGOs in Germany. In his opinion, the Turkish population in Germany which is both European and Turkish, enriches both countries. Mr. Eren pointed out that a good command of German as well as school education in two languages for an integration success is needed. The Minister of State emphasized that acceptance of cultural backgrounds, laws and rules are crucial for coexistence. She referred to the integration paradox and the difficult identity formation of the 2nd and 3rd generation of Turkish immigrants with very good knowledge of German. She also introduced a new project that seeks to employ migrants in government positions. She emphasized the professional advancement of women.
The appointment with İbrahim Kalın, the Turkish presidential spokesman focused on Turkey's refugee policy. Minister of State Widmann-Mauz expressed her great respect for the achievements of Turkey and expressed her interest in the Turkish refugee policy. Mr. Kalın illustrated the refugee situation in Turkey as well as the global impact of nearly 70 million refugees worldwide. He wished to see the German and Turkish "open door" policy in other European countries as well. The Turkish presidential spokesman expressed his high regards for the groundbreaking role that Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken in this regard and made history by it.
The final meeting with Yavuz Selim Kıran, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey discussed the importance of German-Turkish cooperation in the area of "flight, migration and integration" as well as various foreign policy issues in the fields of economy, culture, religion, EU agreements and terrorism.
This delegation trip has proven that the need for further discussion persists and that relations and cooperation between Germany and Turkey need to be strengthened. The exchange of knowledge from the intensive and sustained discussions will contribute to future joint development of political solutions. In addition, the opportunity arose to create new networks and to strengthen the German-Turkish friendship.
