His Excellency Secretary General,

Distinguished Permanent Representatives,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome you all here today, on this meaningful occasion as we gather to commemorate the 15 May International Day of Family.

Allow me first to express our appreciation to the General Secretariat for organizing and co-hosting this special event with Türkiye.

I would also like to extend our thanks to H.E. Ambassador Tarig Bakheet, Assistant Secretary General for Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and H.E. Prof. Noura Alrashoud, Executive Director of the IPHRC for their presence and comprehensive presentations and in this special event.

Since 1994, when the United Nations proclaimed the International Year of the Family, May 15 has served as a global reminder of the vital role families play in the development, cohesion, and well-being of societies.

Family has always been the cornerstone of unity, continuity, and resilience in our nation. A strong and healthy family structure is not only essential for individual well-being, but also serves as the bedrock of a prosperous and peaceful society. In our view, protecting and strengthening the family institution is among the most critical responsibilities we bear in today’s world.

With this understanding, H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 2025 as the “Year of the Family.” Throughout the year, various events and programs are being implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Services in Türkiye and abroad in order to increase awareness, provide socio-economic support, and strengthen the role of families in our communities.

Excellencies,

This morning at the Photo Exhibition commemorating the 77th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba organized by the General Secretariat and Permanent Mission of the State of Palestine to the OIC, we witnessed the pain and sufferings of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Thousands of families are destroyed or displaced due to genocidal campaign by Israel. We strongly stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters and appreciate their resilience.

Distinguished Participants,

During our Chairmanship of 51st CFM, we aim to organize events and initiatives that enhance the capacities of OIC Member States, empower women and youth, and safeguard the traditional family structure against global trends that contradict our shared Islamic values.

In this regard, Türkiye is preparing to convene the first meeting of the OIC Family Committee in the first half of 2026, the establishment of which was agreed at the 1st Social Development Ministers Conference held in Istanbul in 2019 and adopted at the 47th CFM in 2022.

We believe that this will be a major step forward in institutionalizing cooperation among OIC Member States on family policy.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to thank brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt, in their capacity as the current Chair of the OIC Family Committee for agreeing to hold the first meeting of the Committee in Türkiye.

We also thank the Member States who showed interest to be a member of this Committee.

I firmly believe that with the “Year of the Family,” the importance of women and children in our lives will be better appreciated, and it will help raise awareness on this important matter.

Excellencies,

Finally, I would like to reaffirm Türkiye’s strong commitment to protecting and strengthening our societies through resilient family structures.

Before concluding my remarks, I would like to reiterate our thanks and appreciation to all Member States for their participation and the General Secretariat for organizing this special event.

Thank you.