I welcome Turkey’s women who stood against the failed coup on 15 July. I welcome all women who are struggling for rights and freedoms in different areas of life.

Women have demonstrated that politics and public life become better and more beautiful only when women are in the forefront, and that politics can’t be humanized in different aspects of life unless women become a partner and leader. 

I also salute courageous Syrian women who are struggling armed with steadfastness, patience and courage against the tyrant Bashar al-Assad's regime. 

I pay tribute to hundreds of women who fought and are still fighting against despotism and corruption in the Arab Spring countries Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen. 

I salute women in Africa, Asia and Latin America as they are paying the price of exclusion, underdevelopment and political conflicts.

I pay tribute to women everywhere, especially in those states where women’s standard of living is better and women have been able to send a message that change is possible and that women's leadership is often, if not always, be successful.

I welcome women and students who have reached the higher echelons of education and various fields of science and arts. 

 

Dear friends, 

We are arriving on the eve of International Women's Day. It is true that when the world marks this day it honors women. In a very real sense, however, the world stands up for its humanity and transcends all feelings of gender superiority and abhorrent selfishness that had persisted for decades in harming women and their dignity, and in depriving them of participating in public life.  

Today, globalization has showed that women everywhere have their own underlying strength, and it has been clear that women are able to break all fetters and to adapt to rapid changes in today's world.

 

Dear all, 

Women’s participation in public affairs and politics, in particular to be a partner and leader, primarily rests with woman who bear the responsibility of family in the first place, followed by the responsibility of the state and society at the second place. 

Therefore, I call on women throughout the world to show more interest in politics and voluntary work. Women have to aspire to leadership in politics, a leader in public work. They have to have confidence that they will be the best and the most capable, as this is the truth that reveals itself day after day, especially when seeing women go through the public life and the field of competition and partnership.

At the same context, I call upon each father, husband and brother to give his daughter, sister and wife absolute confidence so that they start breaking into political affairs. And when they do so for the common good, men, particularly in the Arab and Islamic societies, will find a thousand reasons to be proud of women and find out that women’s leadership is wholly satisfactory. 

I urge women leaders in the civilized world to build bridges of communication and to participate and cooperate with their colleagues in the East and South in order to fight together the holy battle for communities free from injustice, corruption and tyranny and for societies where there are equal opportunities. 

Once again, I call on women all over the world and in the Arab region, particularly those who have revolted against tyranny and corruption, to take the lead of public affairs just like they led the revolutions. They should seek to lead countries.

Now, they are struggling against counter-revolutions, military coups, armed militia, and they have to keep fighting this battle on order to make the future. Once they win their victory against forces of counter-revolutions and military coups, they will have to introduce themselves as leaders, participate in and establish the political parties and run and set up civil society organizations. Furthermore, women should lead change at institutions. Our nation and the world expect this role from women.  

 

Dear all, 

There is no dignity and freedom for any nation, which oppresses women and deprives them of their inherent rights.

One more time, let us from here to be proud of thousands of Syrian women who have been martyred, injured, forcibly disappeared or subjected to rape in prisons of tyrant Bashar al-Assad. We tell them: we are with you until you along with humanity win victory. 

Free women are those who free nations and create revolutions. I’m not with saying “Behind every great man, woman”, but behind every great revolution, woman. Behind every great revolution, great women. At every single liberation and social change, there were bold determined women inspiring men and women to take on challenges and lead the process of liberation.

But unfortunately, the world scene, especially in our region, is still living under an Inherited male hegemony over the worlds of politics, business and finance. Hence, just as I urged women to get involved in political affairs and public work, I also encourage women, Turkish women and Arab women in particular, to engage in self-employment and boldly face challenges in order to access to rights. Women have the right to take part in economic development and to be well-established in business and finance market. This is the role expected today from woman who should also go through economy and stand out as successful businesswomen.

Experiences have shown that women are safe haven for the family and the fortress for nations during disasters, wars, famines and floods. Only women have shown that they are able to manage affairs of life under unfavorable circumstances. But once stability prevails and life returns to normal the male retakes the helm. This unfair equation in making life must be reformed. Women should lead the society shoulder to shoulder with men to bring about change when the state returns to its natural course and make tools, which safeguard the economy, rights, freedoms and democracy. 

Major challenges are still there, and women are required to work hard in order to establish themselves and gain their rights: 

“If wishes were horses, beggars might ride”

Finally, I would like to extend my grateful thanks to Turkey represented by the government, parties and people, and to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his yesterday’s initiative “Make Hope” launched to aid people in Africa and Yemen.  I am proud of the initiative, and call upon the Turkish people to support this campaign, and tell them that Yemen and Africa expect more and more from you. 

Many thanks for all of you!