02.05.2026 09:10
With the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the period 2026-2035 was declared as the 'Family and Population Decade' in the Official Gazette dated May 2. As alarm bells rang due to Turkey's rapid decline in fertility rates, the government accelerated its efforts. Steps will be taken against situations that negatively affect family formation, encouraging marriage and fertility. The last week of May will be celebrated as 'National Family Week'.
The Presidential Decree on the Family and Population Decade (2026-2035) was published in the Official Gazette.
The decree, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that a strong family and population structure plays a vital role in the stable continuation of societies.
The decree noted that the family is considered the foundation of society in Turkey and this is guaranteed by Article 41 of the Turkish Constitution, emphasizing that Turkey defines the family as the "natural and fundamental unit of society" in international conventions to which it is a party and assigns the state the duty to protect the family.
EMPHASIS ON FAMILY AND POPULATION IN THE DECREE
The decree recalled that globally, population growth was long seen as an obstacle to development, leading to policies reducing fertility, and stated the following:
"On the other hand, harmful trends, especially desexualization, have begun to threaten the family institution, generations, and national and spiritual values by instrumentalizing the discourse of human rights and individual freedoms. Today, our demographic structure is undergoing a significant transformation in terms of marital status, household size, age profile, and spatial distribution. Our fertility rate has declined to the lowest measured level in the history of our Republic, and negative changes in family and population structure have reached an existential dimension."
The decree, emphasizing the importance of effectively implementing family and population policies in coordination, recalled that the Coordination Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family was established by Presidential Decree No. 2024/6 on the "Protection and Strengthening of the Family" published in the Official Gazette dated May 15, 2024, and issue 32547, and the Population Policies Board was established by the Presidential Decree on the Population Policies Board No. 172.
Stating that the period 2026-2035 has been declared the "Family and Population Decade" to carry out studies, which gained momentum with the declaration of 2025 as the "Year of the Family," within a long-term and holistic policy framework, the decree indicated that the "Family and Population Decade Vision Document," outlining strategic priorities, implementation models, and tools targeted for this period, was prepared under the coordination of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and published on the Ministry's official website at "www.aile.gov.tr".
The decree stated, "The Family and Population Decade necessitates all segments of society, especially public institutions and organizations, to act together and decisively in developing and implementing policies to strengthen the family and population," and listed the actions to be taken as follows:
"1- Our national priorities regarding the protection and strengthening of the family and population structure will be included in national policy documents and the strategic plans and programs of institutions; these priorities will be taken as a basis by public institutions and organizations in the negotiation processes of international documents and in the preparation, adoption, and implementation of Turkey country programs by international organizations.
2- All public policies, regulations, practices, and research conducted or supported by public institutions will be evaluated in terms of their effects on the family institution and population change, and the results will be reflected in implementation processes.
3- Public institutions and organizations will act with a family-protecting and population-increasing approach in their activities related to their specific areas of duty, carry out their practices accordingly, adopt a conceptual framework compatible with family and population policy in their official documents, plans, programs, and in-service training, and guidance on this framework will be provided by the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
4- The desexualization trend that negatively affects the family and population, harmful habits and addictions will be addressed within a holistic policy framework that protects generations against all kinds of adverse effects and interventions.
5- The social prestige of the institution of marriage will be protected, mechanisms for building marriages on solid foundations and sustaining them in a qualified manner, encouraging young adults to marry, and facilitating marriage will be strengthened.
6- 'Motherhood and parenthood' will be reinforced as a social value with their decisive role in the healthy development of the child, family structures with multiple children will be supported, and practices that encourage and facilitate having children will be implemented.
7- Policies for raising young people as competent individuals will be strengthened, sustainable social security and health systems for elderly welfare, and diversified care and support models, primarily family-centered, will be developed, and intergenerational solidarity will be reinforced.
8- Within an integrated framework that considers the balanced distribution of the population, comprehensive measures will be implemented to prevent population loss in rural areas, encourage the return of the population concentrated in cities to rural areas, and transform urban spaces from a family- and child-oriented perspective.
9- Existing legal regulations will be reviewed with an approach to protect and strengthen the family and population structure, and studies on new legal regulations will be conducted based on identified needs.
10- Research producing national, strategic, and official statistics for regular monitoring and analysis of changes in the family and population structure will be carried out under the responsibility of the Ministry of Family and Social Services; academic infrastructure, especially graduate programs and research incentives, will be developed in line with strong family and population goals.
11- For the effective execution of the Family and Population Decade Vision Document, institutional structuring, local implementation capacity, cooperation, and technical and digital infrastructure will be strengthened, and the professional competence of personnel will be developed.
12- Diplomatic activities reinforcing Turkey's pioneering role on the issue in international arenas will be conducted, and collaborations will be developed with countries exhibiting similar stances.
13- Necessary measures will be taken within the scope of relevant legislation, primarily creating a digital family shield to identify, evaluate, and prevent harmful elements in all mass media; family-friendly broadcasting will be encouraged, and awareness of responsible media use will be promoted.
14- Communication campaigns regarding strong family and population goals will be conducted, and these topics will be addressed as a fundamental component in formal and non-formal education programs.
15- The last week of May each year will be celebrated as 'National Family Week,' and public institutions and organizations will organize events appropriate to the meaning and importance of this week."
The circular stated, "I kindly request your information and necessary action regarding the coordination of all activities to be carried out within the scope of the Family and Population Decade under the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the determination and reporting of annual activities of all public institutions and organizations to the said Ministry in line with this Circular and the Family and Population Decade Vision Document, as well as the provision of all necessary support to the aforementioned Ministry."
ERDOĞAN HAD WARNED
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had said, "Our population growth rate is decreasing, and when we look at the fertility rate, we are currently experiencing a disaster. As a society, we are becoming individualized, and as a result, we are becoming lonelier."