Ekrem İmamoğlu: The Most Important Egalitarian Move of the 21st Century

IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife Dilek İmamoğlu, in Sarıyer, on the 88th anniversary of the Turkish women being granted the right to vote and be elected; marched with women councilors, headmen and political party representatives. Walking about 2 kilometers in the Atatürk City Forest with his female colleagues, İmamoğlu said, “It is a magnificent example of leadership that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk took this visionary decision by foreseeing this to his nation at such an early time. It is one of the most important egalitarian moves of the 21st century in my opinion. Especially in our geography, this is much more important. We are proud in that regard,” she said.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğluin Sarıyer, on the 88th anniversary of the Turkish women being granted the right to vote and be elected; met with women councilors, headmen and political party representatives. İmamoğlu was accompanied by his wife Dilek İmamoğlu during the morning walk in Atatürk City Forest. İmamoğlu also made his assessment on the subject during the commemoration march. Stating that the Republic of Turkey is one of the countries that gave women the right to vote and be elected in the earliest period, İmamoğlu said, “It is a magnificent example of leadership that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk took this visionary decision by foreseeing this to his nation at such an early time. It is one of the most important egalitarian moves of the 21st century in my opinion. Especially in our geography, this is much more important, due to the geography we are in. We are proud in this respect,” she said.

“WE ARE TAKING ACTION WITH CARE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY IN MANAGEMENT”

“We would have wished for this to be in much better conditions in this age, in the current period,” said İmamoğlu, “But unfortunately, we are not there. Together we can turn this into a win. We can be one of the world's leading nations competing with the world. Of course, mentality is important here. It is important that the understanding of gender equality is established there from the beginning of our children's upbringing. We look holistically. From the number of working women in our institution to the provision of equal opportunities to women and all our people, we are taking action by giving importance to putting forward the principle of equality in management in the best way that many professions can be done by women. All this must be very fast. Because we are wasting a lot of time,” he said.

“WE SHOULD BE STRONG AGAINST VIOLENCE TO WOMEN”

Saying, "Today, we must be vigorous against the violence against women in our nearby geography and the understanding that marginalizes women from social life," said İmamoğlu.

“In this context, we are very happy to organize such an event. We are walking together in the Atatürk City Forest in Sarıyer, here in nature, in this beautiful environment, to express our responsibility to bring that sense of equality bestowed on us by nature to the administration, to the whole life of the country, and even to the whole world. Although today I feel myself in an unequal situation at the point of a dense mass of women, I also feel so strong. I hope that we will live those goals I mentioned, the days when we achieve them together, especially in our country and in all countries of the world.”