On the recent surge in digital and gaming addiction affecting children’s health, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced the formation of a comprehensive committee under the leadership of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to tackle various forms of addiction.
Minister Göktaş highlighted this issue during a program organized by the AK Party Human Rights Directorate in observance of “World Humanitarian Day” at the AK Party Headquarters. She emphasized that humanitarian actions touching people’s lives are never forgotten.
Göktaş stated, “Under the leadership of our President, the AK Party has been the strongest representative of Turkey’s human-centered politics. As a ministry, we conduct our work with this perspective. We are building systems that respect human dignity, and with our new service models, we are looking beyond immediate interventions and quick fixes.”
She underscored the importance of family-focused policies with the principle of “Strong Family, Strong Society, Strong Turkey,” noting that family preservation and empowerment are at the core of all social policies. “We announced the Family Protection and Strengthening Action Plan for the first time this year. Ensuring gender equality has always been our priority for active participation in economic, political, and social life,” she added.
Göktaş also addressed efforts to combat all forms of violence with zero-tolerance policies. “We are committed to ending the cycle of violence with initiatives for both victims and perpetrators,” she said, noting the active operation of 82 Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers, 112 women’s shelters, the KADES app, and the Alo 183 Violence Hotline.
She noted the increasing variety of addictions due to digitalization, “Addictions now include not only substances, tobacco, and alcohol but also digital and gaming addiction, which negatively impacts the health of children and adolescents. Some digital games with violent content distort children’s and teenagers’ sense of reality.”
Minister Göktaş expressed commitment to combat digital addiction through measures outlined in the Family Action Plan announced in May. Additionally, collaborative efforts with the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) aim to raise awareness about digital addiction. “To effectively carry out our fight, we are forming a committee under the leadership of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, involving the Ministries of Education, Health, and Interior,” confirmed Göktaş.
She also revealed the design of a new service model aimed at increasing access to social services, which involves localized initiatives based on social risk maps. “With our neighborhood-focused social service model, we will conduct specific studies tailored to the potential of each neighborhood.”
Göktaş emphasized humanitarian aid as a universal value transcending national borders, citing Turkey’s continuous efforts to respond to aid calls globally without discrimination.
She concluded by addressing the ongoing conflict in Palestine, asserting Turkey’s stand against Israel’s oppression. “Under the leadership of our President, we have always supported the rightful struggle of Palestinians and will continue to vocalize Israel’s atrocities on all platforms.”
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş