The 4th SES Women of the Year Awards Ceremony, organized by the SES Equality and Solidarity Association, took place at the Pera Museum with the participation of nearly 200 attendees. Representatives of the women’s movement, environmental and climate activists, mayors, members of parliament, labor and employer representatives, academics, journalists, media professionals, and artists attended the ceremony, which was marked by the sorrow of the hotel tragedy in Bolu.
We Are Sad, Angry, and in Revolt
The SES Women of the Year 2024 Awards Ceremony began with a message stating “We Are Sad, Angry, and in Revolt.” The event featured an opening speech by Gülseren Onanç, the Founding President of the SES Equality and Solidarity Association. She said:
“2024 has gone down in history as a year in which democracy regressed globally. Fear and isolation became dominant. But on the other hand, 2024 was also the year of brave and wise women who courageously declared that this trajectory was unacceptable for humanity, society, and democracy. Women and groups from Turkey and around the world did not remain silent in an environment where fear, silence, and withdrawal were prevalent; they raised their voices. Despite all the pressures, they remained steadfast defenders of peace, gender equality, climate justice, democracy, and secularism. With their courage and wisdom, they became the hope we seek in the world. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude.”
SES 2024 Women of the Year Award Winners
In 2024, the SES Women of the Year included:
• Polonez Women Workers, who resisted in the labor struggle,
• Demet Evgar, who amplified the free voice of art,
• Women mayors of metropolitan cities who represent equality in politics: Özlem Çerçioğlu, Ayşe Serra Bucak Küçük, Ayşe Ünlüce, Fatma Şahin,
• Women politicians: Candan Yüceer, Burcu Köksal, Hazal Aras, Gülistan Sönük, Melek Mızrak Subaşı, Filiz Gencan Akın, and Sofya Alağaş,
• Arwa Mahdawi, who amplified the voices of Palestinian women,
• İlayda Şamilgil, shaping the future of science,
• Nazan Moroğlu, a symbol of the struggle for secularism,
• Asla Yalnız Yürümeyeceksin Platformu (You Will Never Walk Alone Platform), the voice of young women resisting conservative pressures,
• Women of independent media: Nadire Mater and Evrim Kepenek from Bianet,
• Pioneering women of Açık Radyo: Meral Madra and Didem Gençtürk,
• Climate justice defenders Klima Seniorinnen, who won their case against their government,
• Mountaineer Gülnur Tumbat, who climbed seven peaks across seven continents,
• Gültan Kışanak, a pioneer of the Kurdish feminist movement,
• The women of Hacıbekir and Yanıklar villages, who fought to protect their natural environment and public environmental rights.
How Were the SES 2024 Women of the Year Selected?
The selection process for the SES 2024 Women of the Year Awards was conducted in a participatory manner. The SES Equality, Justice, and Women’s Platform, along with its advisors, identified 32 women and groups from Turkey and around the world as nominees based on the following criteria:
• Advocacy for women’s, LGBTQ+, human, environmental, and labor rights,
• Promotion of gender equality,
• Setting an example with a feminist stance in the struggle for freedom and equality,
• Inspiring and serving as role models for women through their achievements,
• Demonstrating courage and determination in resisting systemic oppression,
• Contributing to social struggles in solidarity.
The nominees were shared with Turkish and English newsletter subscribers, and the winners were determined through a vote involving 3,500 participants.