In line with our efforts towards making Istanbul a regional center for the United Nations, the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) decided in November 2012 to establish the UN Women Regional Office for the Europe and the Central Asia region in Istanbul.

To this end, the “Agreement between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (“UN Women”) and the Government of the Republic of Turkey concerning the establishment of the UN Women Regional Office for the Europe and the Central Asia region in Istanbul” was signed between Turkey and the UN Women on 28 February 2014 in New York.

The Council of Ministers decree concerning the entry into force of the agreement as of 1 December 2014 was published in the Official Gazette on 21 January 2015.

The UN Women Regional Office will carry out regional activities in fields such as equal opportunity for women and men, empowerment of women in society and the promotion of women’s rights. UN Women is among the institutions with which Turkey maintains a close cooperation and, as of January 2015, Turkey has assumed its responsibilities as the UN Women Executive Board Member in New York.

With the entry into force of the Agreement concerning the Establishment of the UN Women Regional Office in Istanbul, a further important step for making Istanbul a regional center for the UN has been taken.