09.11.2026 15:53
Çiğdem Erdoğan, Chair of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, emphasized at a symposium in Antalya that with the spread of smartphones and the internet, digital violence, cyberbullying, and online harassment have increased, and stated that women's safety in the digital world must be ensured.
Chair of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men and AK Party Sakarya MP Çiğdem Erdoğan, along with AK Party Deputy Chairman and Hatay MP Hüseyin Yayman, attended the symposium titled “Social Mediation as a Violence Prevention Model and the Use of Violence in the Media” held in the Alanya district of Antalya. In the program, where digital violence, cyberbullying and women’s safety in the digital world came to the fore, Global Journalists Council President Mehmet Ali Dim drew attention to the importance of the language used by the media in preventing violence.
The symposium, held on November 9, 2026, at the Eftelia Marin Hotel Conference Center in the Alanya district of Antalya, was organized in cooperation with Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKÜ), the Foundation for Combating Violence (HEGEM), and the Global Journalists Council (KGK) chaired by Mehmet Ali Dim.
In addition to Çiğdem Erdoğan and Hüseyin Yayman, who previously served as Chair of the TBMM Digital Media Commission, academics, lawyers and media representatives participating in the program held within the scope of the 6th Global Media Meeting also made assessments on combating violence.
Çiğdem Erdoğan: Digital violence is becoming increasingly widespread
Speaking at the symposium, Çiğdem Erdoğan emphasized that violence is not merely a dispute between individuals or a judicial matter, but a multidimensional problem affecting human dignity, family peace and social trust. Noting that violence has gained new dimensions with digitalization, Erdoğan said, “We must ensure that women feel safe not only on the street, at home and in working life, but also in the digital world. Because with smartphones, the internet and social media becoming an inseparable part of our lives, digital violence is also becoming increasingly widespread.”
Stating that types of digital violence such as cyberbullying, online harassment, threats, defamation and invasion of privacy mostly target women, Erdoğan said that in combating violence, along with legal regulations, education, awareness and inter-institutional cooperation are also of great importance.
Referring to KADES, ALO 183, Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers and the electronic bracelet system implemented in Türkiye, Erdoğan reported that during their visit to the Security and Emergency Coordination Center (GAMER) under the Ministry of Interior, they examined the electronic bracelet application and monitoring mechanisms aimed at preventing the recurrence of violence on site.
Erdoğan: Media should contribute to social peace
Emphasizing that social mediation should be developed within the framework of human rights, victim safety and rule of law principles, Erdoğan also drew attention to the responsibility of the media in combating violence.
“We should see the media not only as a reporter but as a stakeholder contributing to social peace and the development of a culture without violence,” Erdoğan said, continuing his words as follows:
“I believe that with an understanding that strengthens the culture of dialogue and reconciliation, expands social solidarity and uses the media’s opportunities correctly, we can build a safer society together.”
Erdoğan stated that their goal is a Türkiye where women live without fear, children grow up without witnessing violence, families find peace and social problems are resolved through dialogue rather than violence.
Mehmet Ali Dim: The language of the media is very important in preventing violence
Global Journalists Council President Mehmet Ali Dim drew attention to the great importance of the language used by the media in preventing violence.
In the symposium, where the importance of responsible journalism in combating violence content rapidly spreading on digital platforms, hate speech and cyberbullying was discussed, it was emphasized that the media is a power not only conveying news but also creating social awareness.
Digital violence and social mediation were discussed
Academics and experts, including Prof. Dr. Ömer Kul, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Işık, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çilem Tuğba Koç, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Damar and Prof. Dr. Harun Ceylan, took part in the program.
In the symposium held within the scope of the 6th Global Media Meeting of the Global Journalists Council chaired by Mehmet Ali Dim, emphasis was placed on preventing digital violence, developing social mediation practices and strengthening cooperation between media organizations and public institutions.