Emine Erdogan urges global action to counter family decline

Türkiye's First Lady, Emine Erdogan, has issued a compelling call for the international community to forge a new global vision aimed at strengthening the family institution. In a video address to the "Growing Europe 2025" summit, she cautioned that declining birth rates and aging populations are steering societies toward a critical juncture, threatening their very foundations.

A Global Demographic Challenge

Citing stark global demographic data, Erdogan highlighted that the average fertility rate has fallen to 2.2 children per woman, with more than half of all nations now below population replacement levels. She projected that by 2030, one in six people will be over 60, creating immense pressure on economies and social security systems. "A world that cannot renew itself is inevitably dragged into a major impasse," she stated, framing each birth as vital for the world's future.

Türkiye's Proactive Policy Response

In response to these challenges, Erdogan detailed Türkiye's robust national strategy, which includes designating 2025 as the "Year of the Family" and the following decade as the "Decade of Family and Population." She outlined concrete measures such as state-backed housing and marriage loans, extended parental leave, childcare support, and flexible work arrangements designed to alleviate the conflict between professional and family responsibilities.

Critique of Modern Cultural Trends

The First Lady also critiqued contemporary cultural narratives that she argues undermine family life. She expressed concern that modern culture often promotes extreme individualism at the expense of familial bonds, portraying family as an obstacle to personal ambition. She expressed hope that the summit would galvanize stronger, family-centered policy commitments worldwide, asserting that "the steps we take to place the family at the center will bring new breath to an aging and increasingly lonely world."