Şafak Pavey Konferansı – Demokrasi ve Türkiye’nin Geleceği – MELBOURNE 24 Nisan, SYDNEY 27-28 Nisan 2018

Şafak Pavey’in 27 Nisan Cuma akşamı Lidcombe Community Centre’da düzenlenen ‘Demokrasi ve Türkiye’nin Geleceği’ adlı konferansında sizleri de aramızda görmekten mutluluk duyacağız.

Saygı ve sevgiyle…

Sydney Organizasyon Komitesi


Safak Pavey is a Turkish diplomat known for her international work on human rights, humanitarian aid and for becoming the 1st ever disabled female member of the Turkish Parliament.

Pavey’s life has been nothing short of extraordinary.

At age 19, she moved to Switzerland in 1994 to commence her studies in Art and Film. Two years later, Pavey encountered a train accident in Zurich that would change her life forever. She was accompanying a friend who was terminally ill, carrying him in her arms up the stairs and into the coach, when suddenly the train began to move, its doors still open. In an attempt to protect her friend, she fell under the train and lost her arm and leg. Pavey recounts this day clearly: “There was a lasting, very loud noise while the train and its many wagons left the station. I managed to save my head with only some injury. My left arm was lying a bit further away, separated from me. My left leg was torn apart.” Whilst an experience would most likely dishearten many, instead it reshaped Pavey’s future and further motivated her to pursue her education and career.

In 1997 Pavey moved to London and studied international relations at the University of Westminster. Completing her post-graduate studies at the London School of Economics, she specialised in ‘nationalism, ethnicity and minority rights’. Since then, Pavey has worked vigorously in being the voice for minorities and continues to fight against injustices.
accompanying a friend who was terminally ill, carrying him in her arms up the stairs and into the

Below is a brief history of the actions and achievements of Safak Pavey thus far:

  • Served in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2003 – 2010.
  • Worked at the UN Headquarters and on humanitarian missions in the Middle East, Southwest
    Asia and Central Europe.
  • Undertook assignments in countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran,
    Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Hungary.
  • Dealt with different displacement situations, holding various positions
    from being a consultant on child rights, education and gender programs to serving as the regional spokesperson and managing global strategic communications.
  • Worked as a peace solutions activist in a number of conflict areas including Afghanistan.
  • Founded the United Nations interagency support group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘UN IASG for CRPD’) and was appointed Secretary to the CRPD Secretariat at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2010.

In 2011, Pavey returned to Turkey and was elected Deputy of the Istanbul Province for the Republican People’s Party (the party founded by Ataturk), becoming the 1st disabled female member of the Turkish Parliament. Pavey was a member and Vice-Chair of the:

  • Turkey-EU-Accession Committee.
  • NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
  • EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.
  • Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean Union.
  • Euro-Med Sub-Committee on Energy, Water and Environment.

Safak has also had roles as Vice-Chair and Member of the Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Groups in Australia, New Zealand, Norway and South Korea. She served as an MP from 2011-2017 and currently holds senior advisory roles with international organisations and philanthropic projects as an expert on international migration, inclusive design, diversity and social cohesion policies, women’s participation in peacebuilding processes, civilian security and diplomacy with a focus for longlasting solutions. She is also a member of European Council on Foreign Relations and Women Political Leaders Global Forum.

Further Achievements:

  • 2011 – Named one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World by Junior Chamber International.
  • 2012 – Recipient of the ‘International Women of Courage Award’. The International Women of Courage Award is presented annually by the United States. The award recognises women around the world ‘who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk’, recognising her work in defending rights and freedoms of women, children, refugees, persons with disabilities and minorities in Turkey and globally.
  • 2014 – Awarded ‘Secularist of the Year Award’ by British National Secular Society, recognising her work in defending secularism, human rights and the rights of women and minorities in Turkey.
  • 2015 – World Economic Forum, Young Global Leader.
  • 2016 – Munich Security Conference, Munich Young Leader.

The contribution Safak Pavey has made to better the world should not go unnoticed. While there have been significant setbacks, it seems that there is very little that has tempered Pavey’s fierce passion and undeniable strength to fight for a better tomorrow.

Pavey’s story is one that has been heard and recognised on an international scale and in April 2018, Australians will have the privilege of hearing it first-hand. With the invitation of Australian-Turkish communities CHP Representation, Safak Pavey will be visiting Melbourne and Sydney from 20-30 April 2018. Her visit is in the spirit of ‘civilian diplomacy’ to support the civic initiatives by ‘our community/organisations including Move the House – A Tree for Gallipoli, while sharing and fostering Australian/Turkish friendship around the commemorations during ANZAC week.

Pavey will have exchanges on democracy experiences, secularism, political participation of women, international migration, social and ecological good municipal practices with Australian policymakers, practitioners and civil society members.

She will participate in various events including the dinner in Melbourne on ANZAC eve to discuss the “Role of Democracy and its Future” and meet a number of Australian-Turkish community groups in both Melbourne and Sydney.

This visit is intended to allow the wider Australian community to be enlightened by her abilities and ensure the friendship fostered by Ataturk and Bruce (8th Prime Minister of Australia), from the mutual sacrifices in Gallipoli continues now and into the future.

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