Fatma Şahin

Mayor, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality & President, Union of Municipalities of Turkey

Fatma Şahin was born in Gaziantep in 1966. She completed her primary and high school education in Gaziantep and was graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry and Metallurgy of İstanbul Technical University. She worked in a private holding company for 18 years at the beginning of her career. She became the Founding Member of Gaziantep Provincial Organization of Justice and Development Party in 2001. She was elected as the first woman member of Grand National Assembly of Turkey from Gaziantep in 2002 general parliamentary election. She served as a Deputy during 22nd23rdand 24th legislation terms. During her tenure at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, assigned as member of European Union – Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and Chairperson of Ad-Hoc Morals and Decency Murders Commission and Chairperson of Ad-Hoc Research Commission of Violence against Women and Children. Ms. Şahin was appointed as the Founding Minister of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies in the 61st government, which was established after the 2011 general parliamentary election. Herewith, she became the first woman minister from Southeast Anatolia and served as the only woman member of the Cabinet.

Turkish Foundation for the Handicapped elected Fatma Şahin as the “woman of the year” due to her works related to disabled individuals. In the local elections in 30 March 2014, she was elected mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality as one of the first woman metropolitan mayors of Turkey. Ms. Şahin was elected as the President of Union of Municipalities of Turkey in 8 May 2018. She held the offices of the Presidency of Asian Mayors Forum during 2016 – 2019 term, Vice-Presidency of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) during 2016 – 2019 term, Presidency of United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia (UCLG-MEWA) Section during 2016 – 2019 term. In addition, Ms. Şahin is holding the office of Vice-Presidency of Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) since 2014. Fatma Şahin is still the Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and the President of Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB). She is married with two children.