International Hrant Dink award goes to Turkish women's shelter foundation

Duvar English

The International Hrant Dink Award, held in memory of Agos Newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Hrant Dink, who was assassinated on January 19, 2007, was presented on Sept. 15.

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

Hrant Dink’s wife, Rakel Dink, delivered the opening speech of the ceremony. Greeting the attendees in Turkish, Armenian, and Kurdish, Dink noted that it was Hrant Dink’s 70th birthday, according to reporting by the Mezopotamya Agency.  

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

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

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

Dink mentioned that previous award winners had faced various forms of pressure. She emphasized that international officials in Russia were tried as foreign agents by those who couldn’t tolerate freedom of expression, and last year’s award recipient had been silenced.

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

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

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