As TOCİKAD, we participated in the “Training on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for Civil Society Organizations”, organized as part of a project implemented by the International Labor Organization’s Turkey Office with the support of the European Union Delegation to Turkey.
The two-day program, held in Ankara on 12–13 February 2026, brought together civil society organizations working in the field of women’s rights, trade unions and various institutional stakeholders, providing a comprehensive forum for discussion and learning on rights-based approaches in the world of work. This gathering, where common challenges, experiences, and proposed solutions were shared, laid an important foundation for strengthening perspectives on equality, inclusivity, and social justice in the workplace.
Fundamental rights and international standards in the world of work
On the first day of the training, the framework of fundamental principles and rights in the world of work was addressed, and the role of international labor standards in reducing inequalities was discussed. The sessions highlighted topics such as equal opportunities in employment, combating discrimination, the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and the strengthening of social protection mechanisms. Structural inequalities affecting women’s workforce participation, the gender pay gap, the impact of care responsibilities on women’s employment access, and the necessity of inclusive workplace policies were comprehensively assessed.
The presentations also highlighted that discrimination in the workplace is not merely an individual issue but a structural one, emphasizing the importance of jointly developing legal frameworks, institutional policies, awareness-raising initiatives, and enforcement mechanisms to prevent discrimination. Strengthening women’s access to decent work, promoting equality-based policies in the workplace, and adopting holistic approaches to the care economy were also among the key topics discussed.
Preventing discrimination and promoting equality
As part of the program, examples of practices aimed at preventing discrimination in the workplace were shared, whilst experiences regarding institutional transformation processes that strengthen gender equality in the workplace, capacity-building initiatives and policy development processes were also presented. Comprehensive assessments were conducted on policies to prevent workplace violence and harassment, the creation of safe and respectful working environments, the development of an equality-based workplace culture, and tools to protect workers’ rights.
Attention was drawn to the importance not only of increasing women’s participation in the workforce but also of ensuring their access to quality, secure and sustainable working conditions. It was emphasized that this approach is critical for strengthening social justice, reducing economic inequalities and enhancing social welfare.
The approaches of the social partners and areas of common struggle
On the second day of the program, the approaches of social partners regarding gender equality in the workplace were discussed. The development of workplace equality policies, trade union perspectives, the visibility of women’s labor, and current workplace challenges were debated from various perspectives.
In sessions addressing the fight against gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace, the necessity of ensuring safe working environments, developing preventive policies, and strengthening support mechanisms was highlighted. Within the framework of rights-based approaches, comprehensive discussions took place on women’s access to employment, economic empowerment, and equal participation and empowerment in the workplace.
The importance of approaches that address women’s employment not merely through numerical increases, but in conjunction with access to rights, secure employment, equal opportunities and empowerment processes, was a key focus.
A platform for sharing experiences and solidarity
As TOCİKAD, we were delighted to come together with other civil society organizations and trade unions working on women’s issues during this training. This gathering, which offered an opportunity to share our own work, listen to the experiences of different organizations, and reflect together on common areas of struggle, proved inspiring in fostering new collaborations.
The sharing of work across fields, the joint assessment of challenges encountered on the ground, and the discussion of solution-oriented approaches made significant contributions to strengthening civil society and developing solidarity networks. We believe that this established contact and dialogue environment, created to foster a rights-based working life, will support joint advocacy efforts in the long term.
Thank you
We consider this comprehensive program, which has contributed to strengthening fundamental rights in the workplace, promoting gender equality, and fostering cooperation among civil society actors, to have been extremely productive. We would like to thank all the organizations involved for this valuable two-day training and meeting, which facilitated knowledge and experience exchange, strengthened solidarity, and provided new perspectives.
As TOCİKAD, we will continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening equality, inclusivity and rights-based approaches in the world of work, and to collaborate in this field.
Cansel ZEY