The acceptance of women ' s issues as an independent political and planning problem was discussed for the first time in the Fifth Five Year Development Plan ( 1985 – 1990 ), and " the General Directorate for the Status and Problems of Women " was established as a national mechanism in 1990 . The General Directorate , which was connected to the Prime Ministry in 1991 , has been carrying out its activities under the responsibility of a State Ministry .
Since the 1990s , feminist discourse has become institutionalized , with the foundation of women ' s studies centers and university programs at universities such as Marmara University or as Istanbul University . In 1993 , Tansu Çiller became the first female Prime Minister of Turkey .
In 2002 the Turkish government reformed Turkish criminal and civil law , and since then , the rights of women and men during marriage , divorce , and any subsequent property rights have all been equalized . A criminal law has been established that deals with the female sexuality as a matter of individual rights , rather than as a matter of family honor . Additions to the Turkish constitution oblige the state to use all the necessary means to promote the equality of the sexes . Family courts were also created , labour laws were instituted to prohibit sexism , and programs were created to educate against domestic violence and to improve access to education for girls .