First Lady Emine Erdogan delivered a message of unity and hope during the Cancer Combat Summit in African countries. She expressed her wish for brotherhood to endure and for peace, prosperity, and tranquility to prevail in the lands. Erdogan attended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member African Countries' Awareness Raising and Support Program against Cancer as the guest of honor in Abuja, Nigeria. She also met her Sierra Leone counterpart, Fatima Maada Bion, in the Nigerian capital. [66b5e3c0]
In other news, Eda Erdem, the captain of both the Turkish National Women's Volleyball Team and Fenerbahce Opet, has been nominated for the International Women of Courage award by the U.S. Department of State. Erdem's nomination was announced during a reception hosted by the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul, Julie A. Eadeh. U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Jeff Flake praised Erdem's contributions to women empowerment and stated that she truly deserves the award. Erdem expressed her pride and gratitude for the nomination and acknowledged the hard work of her teammates. Erdem's nomination comes at a time when her career is at a peak, with a statue recently erected in her honor. Simla Turker Bayazit, a board member responsible for volleyball at Fenerbahce Club, expressed immense pride in Erdem's achievements and stated that she inspires girls and women everywhere. Erdem also mentioned the possibility of a film or documentary about her life, which excites her. The International Women of Courage award is given annually by the U.S. Department of State to women who have excelled in empowering women, human rights, and various disciplines. [4d04e81a]
Several Afghan women, including Zahra Nader, editor-in-chief of Zan Times, Medina Darwazi, and Arefa Fatimi, have received the Kosovo Presidential Medal of Courage at the International Women, Peace, and Security Conference. The awards were presented by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani. The conference focused on dialogue on security, peace, and amplifying voices of survivors of sexual violence. President Osmani expressed Kosovo's support for the struggle of Afghan women. The event was attended by Hillary Clinton, former US secretary of state, the presidents of Slovenia and Albania, and representatives from other nations. [01c221d5]
A new documentary titled 'The Sharp Edge of Peace' directed by Roya Sadat captures the courage of Afghan women leaders who participated in the failed peace talks with the Taliban. The film focuses on Fawzia Koofi, a former member of Afghanistan's parliament and women's rights activist, who survived an assassination attempt in August 2020. The documentary covers the intra-Afghan talks in Doha, Qatar, where women negotiators, including Koofi, realized that the Taliban already saw themselves as victorious. Despite the curtailment of women's rights under Taliban rule, Koofi and other leaders continue to advocate for change and work from exile to raise awareness about the plight of Afghan women. The film highlights the power of women's participation in peace processes and aims to shed light on the decline of women's rights in Afghanistan. [2c6578b4]
A new podcast episode titled 'My dream is to see a world where no girls are deprived of education' discusses the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021, and the subsequent exclusion of Afghan women from society. The episode features an interview with an Afghan girl who risks her life to attend school secretly under Taliban rule. The podcast is based on an article published in The Big Issue. [83a5d781]
Farah Talib Aziz and Maliha Aziz are the mother-daughter duo behind one of Pakistan's most coveted bridal brands. Farah initially worked from her home's basement but Maliha encouraged her to expand. They established additional workshops and retail spaces in Karachi, Lahore, and Houston. Maliha convinced Farah to create lawn designs. Designing for different age groups and staying innovative has been a constant challenge. Rising costs have made it tough to keep prices competitive. Maliha was inspired by her mother's creativity and Farah would recreate international designs and stitch clothes for her. Maliha leads the design team but Farah's approval is crucial. They balance motherhood with work at FTA. Maliha finds support from her family and workplace arrangements. They share a love for design and each other, strengthening their bond as family, colleagues, and mentors. [5603fc1b]