On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2019, the European Commission highlighted the importance of gender roles in education materials through a training seminar for elementary school teachers on “Redefining Gender Roles” in partnership with Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Trade Union. The seminar, which hosted Professor Nilay Çabuk Kaya as the keynote speaker, took place on 28 March at Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Trade Union.

In her presentation, Professor Kaya, with her experience in implementing adult education, seminars and workshops such as Training of Gender Training Teachers and Training on Awareness of Gender and Vocational Choice, examined gender roles and understanding gender equality which is shaped through formal education, storybooks and textbooks. Prof. Nilay Çabuk Kaya is a professor of sociology at the University of Ankara, Turkey. She is currently the vice-president of the Turkish Sociological Association (TSA) and in the executive committee of the European Sociological Association (ESA).

As part of the EU Aid Programme in the Turkish Cypriot community, the EC has provided support to local NGOs and local communities for gender equality related issues such as women’s empowerment, domestic violence, and a project for a women’s shelter in Nicosia. These projects have an impact on raising awareness about the inequality between men and women and the steps needed to address this. A new project was signed recently with local NGO KAYAD called “Together Stronger” where the aim will be to work with the middle schools and train 300 teachers about sexual education and domestic violence.