“It is our state’s primary duty to eliminate the injustices experienced by our citizens with disabilities”

 

Addressing the ‘Barrier-free Türkiye’ event, President Erdoğan said: “Just as we consider it our responsibility to end discriminatory practices against various segments of our nation, we see it as our state’s primary duty to eliminate the injustices experienced by our citizens with disabilities. We, on one hand, have worked to strengthen the family institution, which is the foundation of the society, and on the other hand, have ensured that our elderly, our brothers and sisters in need of care, and our citizens with disabilities benefit from a vast pool of social services.”

President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the ‘Barrier-free Türkiye’ event at the AK Party Congress Center.

“NO ONE IN THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE CAN BE SEEN AS A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN”

President Erdoğan said: “For whatever reason, no one in the Republic of Türkiye can be excluded, seen as a second-class citizen, or regarded as inferior in social, political, or economic terms. At the top of them are our citizens with disabilities. We are strong with our disabled citizens and we stand in solidarity with our disabled citizens on the path to our goal of making the 21st century the Century of Türkiye. Just as we consider it our responsibility to end discriminatory practices against various segments of our nation, we see it as our state’s primary duty to eliminate the injustices experienced by our citizens with disabilities.”

Stressing that the field of family and social services has been the top issue the state has meticulously focused on since 2002, President Erdoğan said: “We, on one hand, have worked to strengthen the family institution, which is the foundation of the society, and on the other hand, have ensured that our elderly, our brothers and sisters in need of care, and our citizens with disabilities benefit from a vast pool of social services.”

“THE CENTURY OF TÜRKİYE WILL ALSO BE THE CENTURY OF THE DISABLED”

Drawing attention to Türkiye’s Barrier-free Vision Document for 2030, unveiled on the International Day of Disabled Persons three years ago, as well as the National Action Plan on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, implemented two years ago, President Erdoğan stated: “A country where our brothers and sisters with disabilities can have a strong presence in every realm of life without any hardship is one of the goals we want to achieve in the Century of Türkiye. The Century of Türkiye will not only be the century of peace, serenity and brotherhood but also the century of the disabled.”

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “If we want to achieve a barrier-free Türkiye, all our institutions need to contribute in coordination and harmony. I wholeheartedly believe all our responsible units will display the necessary sensitivity and diligence in this regard. Let me remind you that the true disability is to lose one’s ideals and perseverance. There are no disabilities for those who stick to their ideals and perseverance.”