Azerbaijan and Türkiye Strengthen Cooperation on Foster Family Services
Baku, The Gulf Observer: An Azerbaijani delegation led by Anar Aliyev of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan met with Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services of Türkiye, during an official visit to the brotherly country.
At the meeting, both sides emphasized that, thanks to the efforts of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, bilateral relations have advanced to the level of a strategic alliance. They hailed the successful and steadily developing cooperation in the field of social services.
Aliyev noted that the Ministerial Declaration on Foster Family, initiated by the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services, represents an important step in supporting children’s upbringing in a family environment. He expressed gratitude to the Turkish side for spearheading the initiative, which also serves as a platform for international cooperation to strengthen foster care systems.
Minister Göktaş underlined the importance of purposeful collaboration in social services, particularly in the foster family model, stressing that consistent exchange of experience between the two countries plays a vital role.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed future cooperation. Anar Aliyev formally signed the Ministerial Declaration on Foster Family, which outlines mechanisms for sharing best practices, strengthening foster family services, and designating June 30 as International Foster Family Day to raise global awareness of the practice.
The declaration further provides for the creation of a Working Group on Foster Family comprising representatives from various countries, aimed at enhancing interaction and expanding the foster family model worldwide. It also highlights the role of initiatives such as the “Volunteer Ambassadors of the World Project” in boosting the number of foster families in Türkiye and beyond.
