Turkey warns: Declining birth rates are a "national survival issue," and 2025 is the year of the family.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

**Arab Sea - Follow-ups:** The Turkish Minister of Social Services and Family, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, warned of the continuous decline in birth rates in the country, considering it a "national survival issue," especially in light of data revealing that half of Turkish families do not have children. The minister said that forecasts indicate a decrease in the number of children of primary school age by 900,000 within five years, warning that individualism and social isolation contribute to the disintegration of the family structure. She stressed that the decline in fertility cannot be explained by economic factors alone, noting that Turkey needs to confront the crisis away from ideological divisions, at a time when other countries are seeking to take similar measures to strengthen the family. Göktaş defended the declaration of 2025 as the "Year of the Family," considering that trying to portray this as a threat to women's rights harms both parties.