Gender discrimination has been carried into the 21st Century as a complex problem, due to socio­economic and socio-cultural pressures particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries, while it also disturbs social conscience on national and international platform. Within this context, universities and several NGO's with vision have undertaken such missions to handle the problem as forming research centres, developing research models, intellecting national and international communities, bringing forth solutions to the problem, enlightening, promoting and ushering the communities to that end. Consequently, the Foreign Policy Institute has established the Gender Studies Unit.

The objective of the Unit is to concentrate with academic seriousness on gender issueson global scale by claiming    as basis the standards established in line with the criteria and policies developed by the international community; to enhance equal gender participation in economy, education and politics through academic and substantial papers. With this approach, the following objectives come to the foreground:

1. To eliminate stratification stemming from gender inequality, by promoting education;
2. To create awareness within the realm of challenges and opportunities on the basis of gender;
3. To render consciousness so that the disadvantaged groups subjected to gender discrimination claim political empowerment;
4. To maintain that individual intelligence and talent be utilized on optimum level;
5. To develop innovative ideas, and to propose creative solutions.

Prof. Dr. Emel Doğramacı, Chairperson of the Unit, is a member of the Board of the Foreign Policy Institute.Those who would like to contribute to her work can  contact her at edogramaci@bilkent.edu.tr or  edogramaci@foreignpolicy.org.tr