ISTANBUL — The sixteenth International Hrant Dink Award laureates were announced during the ceremony which took place on Sunday, September 15. The award is granted to Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation from Turkey for being one of the longest-standing women’s organizations in Turkey, with its efforts in enabling women to stand together and empower together, for being one of the strongest symbols of the feminist movement, for facilitating the intergenerational transfer of the feminist movement, and for relentlessly combating violence for decades. The award is also granted to Rugiatu Neneh Turay from Sierra Leone for her efforts to transform a deep-seated tradition in Sierra Leone, though facing public reaction, including from her family members and community leaders and succeeding in organizing women and girls despite all obstacles and for her courageous struggle spanning years against female gender mutilation of women and girls.
The award ceremony was narrated by Nezaket Erden and Hakan Emre Ünal. Mahir Günşiray and Eric Nazarian took part in the ceremony with their voice overs. The ceremony was held at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. The President of the Foundation Rakel Dink greeted the audience with the words “The only way to break this spiral is to distance ourselves from all policies that preach violence, to be vigilant against these discourses, to defend the right to life instead of violence, and pluralism instead of monism.”
The song ‘Bir Garip Hal’, by Lara Di Lara, accompanied by Kerem Can Dündar, was hosted by the 23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory. Vartan Harutyunyan also participated in the ceremony with a music performance ‘Boundless Fields’ which was recorded in our close neighbor Armenia. Peyk performed their acoustic pieces ‘Köleler ve Kilitler’ and ‘Denizdeyim’ live at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.
In their speech on behalf of the laureate Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation, Selime Büyükgöze, Melike Keleş, Leyla Soydinç and Yasemin Temizarabacı stated that “At a time when they cast their eyes on women’s equal rights and try to discredit feminism, we do embrace our struggle; we do feel strong and hopeful.”
In her acceptance speech, Rugiatu Neneh Turay stated “I am convinced that you can only make a change when you are within. I challenged myself to remain strong, steadfast, focused, committed and determined never to back down.”
‘Inspirations’, which honors people and organizations in Turkey and around the world who inspire humanity with their actions while raising hope was screened at the ceremony. This year’s Inspirations include individuals and initiatives from Jordan to Greece, from Bangladesh to Switzerland, from Iran to Latin America, who inspire people and humanity with their actions on numerous issues such as women’s rights, justice, struggle to end racism and sexism, struggling economic injustices, poverty and climate crises, defending animal rights.
