The Minister of Labor and Social Security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Sadık Gardiyanoğlu, highlighted the role of Türkiye in shaping TRNC’s social policies during his visit to Antalya. Gardiyanoğlu stated that Türkiye’s experience in social services serves as a model for introducing new facilities and updating existing ones in TRNC.

Gardiyanoğlu announced that 2024 has been declared the “Year of Social Services” in TRNC. He noted the renewal of rehabilitation centers on the island and the establishment of new facilities for people with disabilities, children, the elderly, and women. “Currently, the only missing piece is an autism center, and we’ve begun work to address this,” he said.

After visiting autism centers in Türkiye, Gardiyanoğlu emphasized the importance of implementing a similar facility in TRNC. He stated that a new building for children under state care is under construction and that once completed, the existing building will be repurposed as an autism center.

Gardiyanoğlu also shared that Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, during a recent visit to TRNC, pledged support for the autism center. “Fifteen volunteer teachers from Türkiye have already started providing education for individuals with disabilities, and we have received assurances for further teacher support for the autism center,” he said.

The minister underlined that they are leveraging Türkiye’s legal frameworks and social service systems for swift implementation in TRNC. “There’s no time to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we’re adapting Türkiye’s proven systems to our context,” he added. Gardiyanoğlu expressed gratitude to Türkiye’s Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and Labor Minister Vedat Işıkhan for their continuous support.