The event titled “Our Family, Our Violence-Free Future,” organized in collaboration with Istinye University and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, took place on November 18, 2025, at our Vadi Campus. The distinguished speakers who participated in the event shared their views on important steps to be taken to prevent violence against women and domestic violence.
Joint Action Against Violence
The event titled “Our Family, Our Violence-Free Future,” which addressed the themes of violence against women and domestic violence, took place at our University on November 18, 2025. This event, hosted by our university, was attended by officials from the Provincial
Directorate of Family and Social Services and the Kağıthane Municipality, as well as academics, civil society organizations, and public officials.
“Protecting the Family is Possible by Eliminating Violence.”
The opening speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Işıl Baş De Oliveira, Director of the Center for Gender and Women’s Studies at Istınye University and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Emphasizing the importance of strengthening the institution of the family within the scope of the Year of the Family, Prof. Dr. Işıl Baş De Oliveira drew attention to November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In her speech, she said, “Protecting the family is possible by eliminating violence. The family is the cornerstone of society. The family is indispensable for the peace and prosperity of society.”
“The Family is a Cell, and the Woman is its Core.”
Emphasizing Istinye University’s sensitivity towards violence, our Rector Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş said, “The family is a cell, and the woman is the core of this cell.” Underlining that the important point in his words is to understand and perceive the role of women well, Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş mentioned that it is necessary to look closely at the effects of violence on women, noting that this situation creates longer-lasting and permanent effects not only physically but also psychologically as a trauma.
“Childhood Should Be Considered When Examining Violence”
Sharing her valuable insights during the event, Kağıthane Deputy Mayor Dr. Nedret Apaydın said, “As part of the Year of the Family, this study conducted by Istınye University, one of Turkey’s leading universities, and our Ministry is very important to us as a municipality.” Emphasizing that childhood must be examined when studying violence, Dr. Apaydın stressed the necessity of communication within the family and the importance of urban culture.
“Violence is a Multilayered Problem that Disturbs the Peace of Society.”
Rabia Güngör, Provincial Deputy Director of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, highlighted that the family is a treasure and that every phenomenon that contains elements of violence must be opposed, within the scope of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and the Year of the Family.
Güngör emphasized that the fundamental goal of the Ministry’s efforts is to create a non-violent society. He noted that violence is a multi-layered problem that disrupts social harmony and discussed the Ministry’s policies for protecting women and children in response to this complex issue. He stressed that the solution to these problems lies in the light of science and universities.
Valuable Presentations Shared with Participants
Following the opening speeches, the program continued with presentations.
Esra Okumuş, a sociologist from the Kağıthane Social Services Center Directorate, spoke about the work and objectives of Social Services Centers. She also provided information about protective and supportive services. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Ebru Şalcıoğlu Ertem, a faculty member of the Psychology Department, touched upon the types of violence in her presentation and shared valuable information on domestic violence and violence against women.
All Questions Answered
The second part of the program continued with a presentation by Ezgi Ildırım, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, on the theme of Violence Against Women in the Digital Age. Assistant Professor Ezgi Ildırım discussed the effects of developing technology on aggression and the problems posed by the digital environment, touching on the concepts of power and control. She also answered questions from the audience at the end of her presentation.
In the final part of the program, Osman Fatih Çıtak, Director of the Kağıthane Municipality Social Services Center, shared his presentation titled “Holistic Approaches to Violence and Institutional Perspective” with the audience. Çıtak shared the numerical data from academic studies on violence with the audience. In light of this data, he emphasized that women are the biggest victims of violence.
The program ended with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and a photo session.
