Ms. Euphrasie Kouassi Yao, Special Advisor to the Ivorian Prime Minister on Gender, has concluded an official diplomatic mission to Turkey.
The visit, which took place from August 10 to 18, 2025, aimed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of gender, peace, and sustainable development.
This mission in Istanbul and Ankara is part of an ongoing diplomatic tour that has included Reykjavik, Rome, New Delhi, New York, and Washington. Ms. Kouassi Yao, who also serves as the national coordinator for the Compendium of Women’s Skills of Côte d’Ivoire (COCOFCI) and holds the UNESCO Chair in “Water, Women, and Decision-Making Power” (CUEFPOD), is promoting Côte d’Ivoire’s leadership in gender equality and women’s leadership.
In Istanbul, the mission began with a visit to Galatasaray University. Discussions focused on potential academic cooperation, particularly around the Master’s degree in Gender, Economics, and Sustainable Water Management. The university agreed to participate in the global campaigns “CREA-PAIX 2025-2026” and “My Face for Peace.”
In Ankara, Ms. Kouassi Yao met with Ms. Sureyya Erkan, Director General of Women’s Affairs at the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The two officials discussed strengthening gender equality policies and the fight against gender-based violence, an area where Côte d’Ivoire has been recognized as an African Champion by the OECD.
She was also received by Ms. Zehra Zumrut Selçuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic, and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC). This meeting led to a commitment to sign a strategic partnership between CUEFPOD and SESRIC focused on training, research, and the promotion of equal opportunities for women in Islamic countries.
“Strong partnerships, rooted in trust and mutual respect, are the foundation of a fairer, more egalitarian, and more peaceful world,” said Ms. Kouassi Yao.
Ms. Khadidjatou Toure, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Turkey, and Ms. Deniz Erdoğan, Ambassador of Turkey to Côte d’Ivoire, were instrumental in facilitating the mission and the new partnerships.
AP/Sf/fss/abj/APA