İlmek İlmek

Women from Different Political Parties Across Türkiye Come Together in the “İlmek İlmek” Program, Powered by Alliance of Her

Women from Different Political Parties Across Türkiye Come Together in the “İlmek İlmek” Program

The İlmek İlmek Program, launched to support stronger representation of women in politics, is starting its 2026 term. Women participants selected from different cities and political parties across Türkiye will come together throughout the year in a training program focused on leadership, political communication, campaign management, and solidarity.

İlmek İlmek is the Türkiye branch of Alliance of Her, supported by the European Parliament. It is an empowerment and solidarity platform that aims to make women leaders in politics more visible, effective, and lasting. The program was designed as a unique capacity-building and solidarity network for women who are active in politics in Türkiye or aspire to enter political life, with the goal of increasing women’s visibility, influence, and participation in decision-making mechanisms.

The first module of the program took place in Denizli between 7–10 May 2026. Under the theme “Recognize Yourself and the System You Are Part Of,” participants worked with experts on topics including personal leadership, building a political identity, constitutional and political structures, strategic thinking, visibility, resilience, and women’s leadership.

Women from Different Parties at the Same Table

One of the most distinctive aspects of the program is that it brings together women from different political parties in Türkiye within a shared space for learning and dialogue. Women participants from various political backgrounds, including the Republican People's Party (CHP), Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), Good Party (İYİ Party), Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Future Party, will have the opportunity to work together around shared issues beyond political polarization.

Three Modules in Three Cities

The 2026 program consists of three separate modules taking place in three different cities:

• Denizli | 7–10 May: Recognize Yourself and the System You Are Part Of
• Rize | 9–12 July: Define Your Voter Base and Choose Your Issue
• Istanbul | 8–11 October: Build Your Campaign and Take Action

In each module, participants will meet with academics, journalists, communication experts, political professionals, and trainers from different fields.

İlmek İlmek aims to be more than just a training program; it seeks to become a network where women support one another, share experiences, and build long-term connections. This approach is reflected in the program’s statement: “Political dreams can only become reality when woven together.”

A New Space for Women’s Journey in Politics

At a time when discussions continue around increasing women’s representation in decision-making processes in Türkiye — from local governments to parliament — the İlmek İlmek Program offers a concrete and sustainable model in this field. Participants selected for the 2026 program come from all across Türkiye, from Gaziantep to Ağrı, Hatay to Trabzon, and İzmir to Ankara.

Contact:

Website: ilmekilmek.org
Email: bilgi@ilmekilmek.org