Ece Çiftçi, founder of the SosyalBen Foundation, has been elected as a ‘Permanent Committee Member’ at the Council of Europe’s General Assembly. With this appointment, Çiftçi becomes the youngest member in the Council’s 75-year history.
Ece Çiftçi, the founder of the SosyalBen Foundation, has been elected as a ‘Permanent Committee Member’ at the Council of Europe’s General Assembly. With this appointment, Çiftçi becomes not only the youngest member in the Council’s 75-year history but also the sole representative from Turkey in the current term.
Selected as one of the three Youth Delegates to represent the principles of the Council of Europe in 2023, Çiftçi has been serving on the Council’s Committee on Civil Society for approximately two years. She is also the only young woman among the Youth Delegates.
According to a report by Gazete Duvar’s Selay Dalaklı, Çiftçi will assume a continuous responsibility as the second most authoritative person after the Chair in the Civil Society Committee. This role involves decision-making, policy development, and making proposals, with the committee reporting to the general secretariat.
In her new position, Çiftçi will serve continuously for three years, aiming to amplify the voice of advocacy activities for vulnerable groups such as children and youth. She will work towards rejuvenating, modernizing, and making human rights, law, and democracy concepts more accessible within civil society.
In a statement following her election, Ece Çiftçi expressed her pride in her new role and shared her feelings:
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to amplify the voices of the vulnerable groups I advocate for by actively participating in the Council of Europe. Being the ‘Youngest Permanent Committee Member’ in the Council’s 75-year history holds special significance for me. Since the founding of SosyalBen, I have consistently emphasized the importance of recognizing and applauding children and youth for their unique talents and strengths beyond societal norms. This achievement serves as a significant example in this regard. Children who can discover their own strengths early on and continue to develop them can gain meaningful representation at a young age and make a global impact. Being able to share this belief through my own story is incredibly meaningful to me.”