FIGEN KELEMER

Figen Kelemer is a Human Rights Activist and Humanitarian Aid Worker from Turkey. She graduated from University in 2006 from Economical Science Faculty. After her graduation, she lived and worked in China for two years and has travelled extensively during her working life.

"Mutual understanding, empathy and respect are the keys for a better world"

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

Turkey became one of the biggest refugee-hosting country after Syrian crises. Around four million Syrian war affected people living all around the country. After the crises one of the biggest gaps was in Humanitarian aid sector, identifying the needs of the people and responding to them timely basis in a human rights-based approach was essential. Many of us were willing to help but we didn't experience such influx and did not know where to start.

I worked as a human rights defender since 2009 but Humanitarian response was something I did not experience before. After a couple of years of experiences with different International organisations, I have become an expert on food security and livelihoods where I can operate interventions from emergency response to resilience. My human rights work experience always gives me a passion to help people in a rights-based approach. My work is my passion and I love seeing people safe and a smile on their faces.

Q: What is your view of world as it is today? And how do you define the concept of a better world?

Earth is the only planet for now where we can live and is big enough with lots of sources. However our superiority complex to become bigger, richer, superior put some others in a worse situation. Even though lots of sources available they are not accessible for everyone equally.

Mutual understanding, empathy and respect are the keys for a better world. We have nowhere else to go so we have to respect the planet and all alive living in.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society?

The biggest challenges we are facing on a daily basis in Turkey is lack of intercultural dialogue, nationalism and racism, lack of tolerance for differences such as religion, gender, sexual orientation.

Q: As a young individual what are a few of the hurdles that you had to overcome up until today?

Gender discrimination is one of the biggest challenges in countries like Turkey. I have faced discrimination many times, especially at the workplaces just because I am a woman. But this didn't stop me to take the challenge and fight against it through working with young women and men for an equal future.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

A mentor is playing an important role for the people who want to make a change. Even the strongest people need guidance, a supporter to follow the path they want in a better way. For me having a mentor will help me to see the different angles of the decision I made and take preventive actions for challenges.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?

I have grown up in a society where girls were not heard. Mostly drop out of the schools and end up with early marriages.

I was lucky to have a supportive family who supported me to continue my higher education and travel around the world to understand different cultures, religions and people. Standing against patriarchy always become a challenge during my education and professional working life, but believing yourself and being a role model helps not only you but also people around you.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

For women, challenges start by born in Turkey and continues with inequality to accessing education, work opportunities, political representation and all other stages of life. As a woman I have always advocate for gender equality and for that I have created some networks between young women and men to discuss the gender roles, challenges, equality etc. Most of the youngsters finished their higher education and working professionally now, some of them become human defenders themselves.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful” - Malala Yousafzai