Hrant Dink International Award Honors Champions of Women’s Rights

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The Hrant Dink International Award, held in memory of the Editor-in-Chief of Agos Newspaper, Hrant Dink, who was murdered on January 19, 2007, was presented on September 15.

The award was given to Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation from Turkey and Rugiatu Neneh Turay from Sierra Leone, who also fight for women’s rights.

Hrant Dink’s wife, Rakel Dink, delivered the opening speech of the ceremony. While greeting the attendees in Turkish, Armenian, and Kurdish, Dink noted that it was Hrant Dink’s 70th birthday.

Dink highlighted that physical and psychological violence and anger dominate the world, leading to a daily decline in patience, compassion, respect and love.

He said, “The power of terrorism is growing internationally. Even in our country, speeches in parliament turn violent. Threats targeting identity normalize violence in society. Stories of violence against women, children and animals are becoming more common.”

He pointed out that random killings take lives, that animals’ rights to live are ignored, and that discussions about children’s rights are replaced by news of murdered children. Dink also said that governments feed violence, while politicians talk about civilization, neighborliness, and ethics, all while planning new wars.

Dink mentioned that the winners of the previous awards had faced different kinds of pressure. He emphasized that international officials in Russia had been tried as foreign agents by those who could not tolerate freedom of expression, and that the recipient of last year’s award had been silenced.

“The only way to break this cycle is to stay clear of all policies that preach violence and protect the right to life,” said Dink, calling for joint efforts for social peace, justice and equality.

Afterwards, members of the Mor Çatı Foundation, who received the award presented by Rakel Dink and Zeynep Oral, said, “Our struggle for a just and equal world without violence is a shared one.”

The Hrant Dink International Award is presented annually at an award ceremony organized on Dink’s birthday, September 15th. It is presented to individuals or organizations who advocate for anti-discrimination, racism and violence.