CONFERENCE PROGRAM

TURKEY DEBATES ITS SOCIAL POLICIES 
15-16 June 2012, Koç University Sevgi Gönül Cultural Center

(Turkish-English simultaneous translation service will be available for the whole conference.)

DAY ONE:


09:00-09:30 REGISTRATION 

09:30-09:45 WELCOME

Fatoş Gökşen, Director of Koç University Social Policy Center

09:45-11:15 POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN TURKEY (FIRST SESSION)

Moderator: Emrah Göker (Koç University)

  • "Poverty Profiles in Turkey", Oğuz Işık (Middle East Technical University) and Ela Ataç (Gazi University)
  • "Economic Crisis and Family Distress", Banu Kavaklı Birdal (İstanbul Kemerburgaz Üniversitesi), Işık Aytaç (Boğaziçi University) and Bruce Rankin (Koç University)
  • "Inequalities As Injustice Passing Down Through Generations", Ayşen Candaş (Boğaziçi University)
  • "Social Protection Expenditures", Nurhan Yentürk (Bilgi University)
  • "The Role and Activities of General Directorate of Social Assistance in the Struggle Against Poverty", Aziz Yıldırım (Ministry of Family and Social Policy (MFSP), General Director of Social Assistance)

Discussion    


11:15-11:30 COFFEE BREAK   


11:30-12:45 POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN TURKEY (SECOND SESSION)

Moderator: Murat Yüksel (Koç University)

  • "Working Poor in Turkey", Recep Kapar (Muğla University)
  • "Where does Conditional Cash Transfer stand in terms of women empowerment? Initial findings of a Field Research in Mersin, Adana, Antep, Mardin and Diyarbakır", Bediz Yılmaz (Mersin University)
  • "Employment - Social Exclusion - Poverty Relationship from a Gender Perspective", İpek İlkkaracan Ajas (İstanbul Technical University)
  • "Paradigm Shift in Social Assistance: Minimum Income Support", Samet Güneş and Ahmet Fatih Ortakaya (General Directorate of Social Assistance, MFSP)

Discussion


12:45-14:30 LUNCH BREAK


14:30-15:45 OFFICIAL OPENING AND KEYNOTE SPEECHES

Sami Gülgöz, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Koç University

Ayşe Buğra, Director of Boğaziçi University Social Policy Forum

Martin Raiser, Turkey Country Office Director, World Bank

Umran İnan, President of Koç University

Fatma Şahin, Minister of Family and Social Policy 


15:45-16:15 COFFEE BREAK   


16:15-17:30 SOCIAL POLICIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Moderator: Sami Gülgöz (Koç University)

  • "Evaluating Child Poverty within the Framework of Child Well-Being", Pınar Uyan Semerci (Bilgi University)
  • "Gender and Vocational Education", Fatoş Gökşen, Deniz Yükseker, Ayşe Alnıaçık (Koç University) and Ünal Zenginobuz (Boğaziçi University)
  • "Social Policies for Children and Youth", Bengi Semerci (MFSP, Ministry Advisor)

Discussion


17:30-18:30  SOCIAL POLICIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES  

Moderator: Aylin Küntay (Koç University)  

  • "Urban Citizenship, Local Governments and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", Dikmen Bezmez (Koç University)
  • "The Role of Civil Society in Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", Bülent Küçükaslan (Engelliler.biz Platform)
  • "Services for the Disabled and the Elderly", Aylin Çiftçi (MFSP, General Director for Services for the Disabled and the Elderly)

Discussion


18:30 RECEPTION

 

DAY TWO:


09:00-09:30 REGISTRATION 


09:30-11:00 SOCIAL POLICIES FOR WOMEN

Moderator: Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı (Koç University)

  • "Cash Transfer Program for Widowed Women", Şebnem Avşar Kurnaz (MFSP, Head of Research and Development Department)
  • "In the Grip of State, Family and Market: 'Women without Men'", Şemsa Özar (Boğaziçi University) and Burcu Yakut-Çakar (Kocaeli University)
  • "Disaster, Women and Social Policy", Zozan Özgökçe (Van Women's Association)
  • "Equality in Politics is Possible", Çiğdem Aydın (Association for the Support of Women Candidates)
  • "Law for the Protection of Family and Prevention of Violence against Women", Özlem Bozkurt Gevrek (MFSP, General Director for the Status of Women)

Discussion   


11:00-11:15 COFFEE BREAK   


11:15-12:15 SOCIAL SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE

Moderator: Murat Ergin (Koç University)

  • "Public Reform and Social Services", Berna Yazıcı (Boğaziçi University)
  • "Recent Reforms in Turkish Healthcare System", Sabahattin Aydın (İstanbul Medipol University)
  • "Transformation of the Healthcare System in Turkey: Opportunities and Threats", Volkan Yılmaz (Istanbul Kemerburgaz University)
  • "Family Social Support Program", Gazi Alataş (MFSP, Deputy Undersecretary)

Discussion   


12:15-13:30 LUNCH BREAK   


13:30-15:00 EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND SHELTER

Moderator: Lemi Baruh (Koç University)

  • "Education", Batuhan Aydagül (Education Reform Initiative)
  • "The Road to Education Excellence: Evidence for Turkey from PISA", Naveed Hassan Naqvi (World Bank)
  • "Employment", İnsan Tunalı (Koç University)
  • "TOKİ and Urban Transformation Projects as Means of Property Transfer", Tuna Kuyucu (Boğaziçi University)

Discussion   


15:00-15:15 COFFEE BREAK   


15:15-17:00 ISSUES IN SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH (ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION)  

Ministry of Family and Social Policies
Enver Taştı, Turkish Statistical Institute
Gökhan Güder, Ministry of Development
Deniz Yükseker, Koç University Social Policy Center
İlkay Savcı, Ankara University Social Policy Research Center
Boğaziçi University Social Policy Forum
Gökçe Uysal, Bahçeşehir University Center for Economic and Social Research
Murat Güvenç, İstanbul Şehir University Center for Urban Studies
Banu Ergöçmen, Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies
Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, Koç University Center for Gender Studies  
Batuhan Aydagül, Education Reform Initiative
Cristobal Ridao-Cano, World Bank
Fatma Gelir, United Nations Development Programme
Ülker Şener, Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey
Nurhan Yentürk, Public Expenditures Monitoring Platform
Hilal Kuşçul, Mother Child Education Foundation
Uğur Gülderer, Genç Hayat Foundation
Mehmet Çelik, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Rıza Öztürk, Sarıyer Municipality