Women and Democracy Association (KADEM)

The Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) is a civil society organization established on 8 March 2013. Guided by the principle of “equality in existence, justice in responsibility,” the association aims to build a safe society where women can live with dignity and a just future.

KADEM seeks to produce practical and sustainable solutions on women’s rights and family-related issues. To this end, its core focus areas include contributing to academic literature, advocating for rights, engaging in civil activism, combating all forms of violence, and supporting women’s access to equal opportunities.

Active internationally, KADEM brings women’s issues and challenges to global platforms. For instance, it participated in the executive board of the W20 summit, the first of its kind held under Türkiye’s G20 presidency, and has contributed to this summit annually since 2015.

With 53 regional offices across Türkiye, KADEM identifies local needs and challenges faced by women and develops context-specific solutions. Its activities aim to enhance economic productivity and highlight women’s skills and accumulated expertise.

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• Contribution to Women’s Development: Supporting the development of modern, skilled, entrepreneurial, and qualified women in economic, social, and political spheres for Türkiye’s advancement.
• Awareness of Gender Justice and Equal Opportunities: Fostering a shared societal consciousness on women’s human rights and equal opportunities by placing gender justice at the center.
• Contribution to Democracy and Human Rights: Promoting and strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental freedoms by protecting women’s human rights.
• Women’s Participation in Life: Implementing projects and activities that enable all women—disabled or non-disabled, young, elderly, or adult—to participate in legal, economic, social, political, artistic, and other spheres, fostering individual and professional development grounded in democratic rights and the rule of law.
• Contribution to Türkiye’s Development: Supporting Türkiye’s progress in politics, economy, art, culture, science, technology, and other fields through research, analysis, publications, and similar initiatives; encouraging, implementing, and disseminating such efforts.

The Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) carries out various activities aimed at enabling women to participate more actively and equally in social life. These activities can be summarized as follows:

KADEM organizes educational programs to raise awareness on women’s rights and social gender justice. These include programs such as “Two Humans,” “Building a Trust-Based Society,” “The Anatomy of Violence and Solutions,” “Women in the Abrahamic Religions,” and “Law Guide/Legal Rights.” These programs are delivered by volunteer educators through KADEM’s 55 regional offices across Türkiye.

KADEM organizes national and international summits and congresses on women and family issues. For example, the biennial “International Women and Justice Summit” addresses issues concerning women, families, and society on a global scale and develops proposed solutions.

To contribute to the literature on women’s studies, the association publishes various works. Peer-reviewed academic journals such as KADEM Women’s Research Journal publish research on social gender and women’s studies. Additionally, reports such as “Women in Life,” “The State of the Family and Paternity Research in Türkiye” are also released.

KADEM implements projects and campaigns that support the economic and social empowerment of women. For instance, the “Start Your Future” project provides professional development support for girls under state protection.

With regional offices in 52 provinces across Türkiye, KADEM identifies local needs and challenges faced by women and develops context-specific solutions. Through these offices, activities are conducted to enhance economic productivity and reveal women’s skills and accumulated expertise.

Young KADEM is the youth structure of the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). It encourages university students and recent graduates to implement social responsibility projects through a spirit of volunteerism. Young KADEM aims to increase young people’s social awareness, develop their leadership skills, and raise consciousness about women’s rights.

Young KADEM supports active youth participation by organizing various events, educational programs, and workshops across Türkiye. It also contributes to the social and cultural development of youth through activities such as setting up booths at universities, organizing field trips, and hosting cultural events.

Young people aged 18 to 29 who wish to join Young KADEM can apply by completing the volunteer application form on the association’s official website.

KADEM Women’s Research Journal is the official academic publication of the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). As a peer-reviewed journal in the fields of social gender and women’s studies, it publishes original research from diverse disciplines including law, political science, economics, culture, art, literature, anthropology, sociology, psychology, theology, religious studies, and communication.

The journal is published twice a year, in December and June, and does not charge any fees for article submission. Manuscripts are accepted exclusively through DergiPark, and the evaluation process is conducted with rigorous care.

KADEM Women’s Research Journal seeks to question singular and dogmatic approaches to women’s issues, remove the topic from the exclusive domain of a narrow academic circle, and present it through an interdisciplinary lens to a broader academic and general readership. It also aims to critique hegemonic discourses and analyses in women’s studies in Türkiye by incorporating alternative perspectives and conceptualizations emerging from the international academic community.

The latest issue includes research articles on topics such as interpreting unpaid domestic labor through the lens of the Republic’s ideal of womanhood, representations of young Turk women through a male gaze, and determining the vulnerability levels of women to climate risks and hazards.

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The Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) has organized the “International Women and Justice Summit” biennially since 2014. The summit’s purpose is to address issues concerning women, families, and society on a global scale, identify problems, and develop solutions.

The summit’s mission is to create an international platform for strengthening the family—the foundational unit of society—and for comprehensively discussing all dimensions of gender-based discrimination faced by women. Its vision is to support democratic reforms in women’s socio-cultural, economic, and political lives and to shape public discourse on social issues.

Each summit is structured around a specific theme:

• 2014: The theme “Justice” examined the concept of justice as articulated and defended by KADEM in addressing women’s issues.
• 2016: Under the theme “Speak Up for Justice,” topics such as the role of refugee women and women in peace processes were discussed.
• 2018: Focused on the theme “Strengthening the Family,” the summit concentrated on the family as the cornerstone of society.
• 2020: Under the theme “Remaining Human in the Digital Age,” the impacts of digitalization on individuals and society were examined.
• 2022: The theme “Cultural Codes and Women” addressed the influence of social norms on the lives of women worldwide.
• 2024: Under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Women,” the impacts of AI technologies on women and their contributions to social gender equality were analyzed.

The summit brings together ministers, civil society representatives, academics, public and private sector officials, members of parliament, journalists, writers, and prominent figures from business and the arts. At the closing session of the two-day summit, a declaration of findings and recommendations is shared with the public.

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An entrepreneurship support program organized by the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) since 2015. The program aims to enhance women’s entrepreneurial capabilities and support ventures with potential to generate quality employment.

Women entrepreneurs participate in camps designed to help them develop their ideas and implement their projects. Training is provided on business planning, branding strategies, marketing, finance management, customer relations, and investor engagement.

Participants receive guidance from expert mentors and access to advisory services necessary to advance their projects.

Entrepreneurs are provided free access to prototyping workshops and open office spaces to materialize their projects.

The program creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and secure funding for their ventures.

Developed by Duygu Yılmaz, this project aims to produce bioplastics from olive pits. This environmentally friendly initiative is used in various sectors including automotive spare parts, food packaging, and textiles.

This initiative by Tuğba Cici offers innovative solutions in the field of biotechnology.

Founded by Hülya Tomak, this venture provides services in the technology and software sector.

Ece Zeynep Kalyoncuoğlu’s project focuses on material production and innovation.

Developed by Merve Nur Şahin, this project aims to deliver innovative solutions in the healthcare sector.

Established in 2022 in Istanbul’s Edirnekapı district, the Center aims to address the psychosocial, economic, and educational challenges faced by women and to empower them.

• Psychosocial Support: Counseling services are provided to meet women’s emotional and social needs.
• Education and Workshops: Various courses, seminars, and workshops are organized to support women’s personal and professional development.
• Employment Support: Mentorship, internship opportunities, and assistance in job search processes are offered to women seeking to enter the workforce.
• Legal Counseling: Volunteer lawyers provide information and guidance to women on legal matters.
• Solidarity Groups: Platforms are created for women with similar experiences to come together and support one another.

The Center delivers its services based on confidentiality and an inclusive working principle. Supporting women’s well-being and empowering them are central objectives.

The KADEM Women’s Support Center continues its work to touch women’s lives and promote equality and justice in society.