Women and Democracy Association (KADEM)

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

KADEM seeks to produce applicable 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 women’s rights, engaging in civil activism, combating all forms of violence, and supporting women’s achievement of equal rights and opportunities.

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

With 53 representative offices across Türkiye, KADEM identifies local needs and challenges faced by women and develops context-specific solutions to enhance economic productivity and highlight women’s skills and contributions.

Women and Democracy Association (KADEM)

Association Objectives

• Contribution to Women’s Development: Support the advancement of modern, skilled, entrepreneurial, and qualified women in economic, social, and political spheres to foster Türkiye’s development.
• Gender Justice and Equal Opportunity Awareness: Foster societal awareness of women’s human rights and equal opportunity by placing gender justice at the center.
• Contribution to Democracy and Human Rights: Protect women’s human rights and contribute to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental freedoms.
• Women’s Participation in Life: Implement projects and activities that promote the legal, economic, social, political, and artistic participation of all women—disabled or non-disabled, young, elderly, or adult—to support their individual and professional development grounded in democratic rights and the rule of law.
• Contribution to Türkiye’s Development: Contribute to Türkiye’s advancement in politics, economy, art, culture, science, technology and other fields through research, analysis, publications, and similar activities; encourage, implement, and disseminate such efforts.

Association Activities

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:

Educational Programs

KADEM organizes training sessions to raise awareness on women’s rights and social gender justice. These include programs such as “Two Humans,” “Building a Gender-Just Society,” “Anatomy of Violence and Paths to Prevention,” “Women in Abrahamic Religions,” and “Law Guide/Legal Rights.” These trainings are delivered by trained educators through KADEM’s representative offices in 55 provinces across Türkiye.

Summits and Congresses

KADEM organizes national and international conferences 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 policy recommendations.

Publications

The association publishes various works to contribute to the literature on women’s studies. 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 Good Family and Paternity Study in Türkiye” are also released.

Projects and Campaigns

KADEM implements projects and campaigns that empower women economically and socially. For instance, the “Start Your Future” project supports the professional development of girls under state protection.

Representative Office Activities

With representative 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 highlight women’s skills and accumulated expertise.

Young KADEM

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

Young KADEM supports active youth participation by organizing various events, educational programs, and workshop initiatives 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.

Youth aged 18 to 29 age 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

KADEM Women’s Research Journal is the official academic publication of the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). As a peer-reviewed journal in the field of social gender and women’s studies, it publishes research across 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 publication. Manuscripts are accepted exclusively via DergiPark, and the evaluation process is conducted with rigorous standards.

KADEM Women’s Research Journal seeks to challenge 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 dominant paradigms and analyses in women’s studies in Türkiye by incorporating alternative orientations and conceptualizations emerging from the international academic community.

The latest issue features research articles on topics such as the interpretation of unpaid domestic labor through the lens of the Republic’s ideal of womanhood, the representation of young Turkish girls through a male gaze, and the assessment of women’s vulnerability to climate danger and risks.

KADEM Women’s Research Journal. 2019. “Volume 5, Issue 2.” Accessed 8 November 2024. (KADEM)

KADEM Women and Justice Summit

Since 2014, the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) has organized the “International Women and Justice Summit” every two years. The summit aims to address issues concerning women, families, and society on a global scale, identify challenges, and develop policy recommendations.

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” explored the concept of justice as articulated and defended by KADEM in addressing women’s issues.
• 2016: Under the theme “Speak Up for Justice,” discussions focused on the role of refugee women and women in peace processes.
• 2018: The theme “Strengthening the Family” centered on the family as the cornerstone of society.
• 2020: Under the theme “Being 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: With the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Women,” the impacts of artificial intelligence technologies on women and their contributions to gender equality are examined. was addressed.

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

Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). “6th International Women and Justice Summit: Artificial Intelligence and Women.” Accessed 8 November 2024. (KADEM)

KADEM Women in Innovation

Initiated by the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) in 2015, this is an entrepreneurship support program designed to enhance women’s entrepreneurial capabilities and support ventures with the potential to generate quality employment.

Program Content and Support Provided

Entrepreneurship Camps

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

Mentorship and Advisory Services

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

Prototyping and Office Facilities

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

Investor Meetups

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

Notable Project Examples

Biolive

Developed by Emotion Yılmaz, this project aims to produce bioplastics from olive kernels. This eco-friendly initiative is used across various sectors including automotive spare parts, food packaging, and textiles.

Leoxygen Biotechnology Inc.

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

Blueit

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

LL Material Factory

This project by Ece Zeynep Kalyoncuoğlu focuses on material production and innovation on.

Medglanis

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

KADEM Women’s Support Center

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.

Service Areas

• Psychosocial Support: Provides counseling services addressing women’s emotional and social needs.
• Educational Workshops: Organizes courses, seminars, and workshops to support women’s personal and professional development.
• Employment Support: Offers mentorship, internship opportunities, and assistance in job search processes for women seeking to enter the workforce.
• Legal Counseling: Provides information and guidance on legal matters through volunteer lawyers.
• Support Groups: Creates platforms for women with similar experiences to come together and support one another.

Values and Principles

The center delivers its services based on the principles of confidentiality and inclusive work. Its primary goals are to support women’s well-being and strengthen their capacity.

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