Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun met with Mariam Khan, UNFPA Representative in Turkey. The meeting addressed cooperation on women’s health and gender equality.

Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun held a series of meetings in Ankara. Following their discussions with the representatives of the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNICEF and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Co-Mayors held a comprehensive meeting with UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Representative in Turkey Mariam Khan.

Women’s Health and Gender Equality

The meeting explored opportunities for cooperation in projects on women’s health, gender equality and disadvantaged groups. The municipality’s request to play an active role in UNFPA projects was underlined, while the provision of technical and financial support for ongoing work on women’s health and rights was also raised.

At the meeting, topics discussed included strengthening health services to reduce maternal mortality, raising awareness of HPV in rural areas, supporting projects for the production of ecological and hygienic sanitary pads, and organising training programmes for municipal staff.

Emphasis on Concrete Steps

UNFPA Representative in Turkey Mariam Khan expressed her appreciation for Diyarbakır’s proactive approach to women’s health and gender equality, stressing that this would ensure concrete and sustainable steps in these areas.

The Co-Mayors were accompanied at the meeting by Özden Gürbüz Sümer, Head of the Department of Women and Family Services; Serap Yıldırım, Head of the Department of Social Services; and Murat Akbaş, Head of the Department of Studies and Projects.