Canan Arın, one of the founders of Mor Çatı Association, is the owner of the 13th International Hrant Dink Awards in Turkey this year. The International Hrant Dink Award was given to Filipino investigative journalist Maria Ressa.
The 2021 International Hrant Dink Awards found their owners at the online ceremony last night. Women’s rights defender and lawyer Canan Arın, one of the founders of Mor Çatı Association, won the award in Turkey this year, while Maria Ressa, a press freedom defender and investigative journalist working in the Philippines under difficult conditions and high personal risk, was awarded the International Hrant Dink Award.
In the statement made by the Hrank Dink Foundation, it was noted that Canan Arın persistently pursues violence against women in Turkey, impartially, independent of political polarization, based on scientific studies and data, within the framework of law.
In her speech after receiving the award, Canan Arın said, “The only event that opens people’s hearts and encourages people in such a monstrous and terrible picture is women’s resistance and solidarity.”
The other winner of the award, Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, addressed the “journalists and activists who continue to struggle” and said, “We must not stray from our path. People may sometimes say that you are naive or stupid. They say the same about us, but we are not.”
Given on Hrant Dink’s birthday
As every year, the International Hrant Dink Award was given for the 13th time this year, on September 15, Hrant Dink’s birthday.
The award is given to two individuals, institutions or organizations each year, from Turkey and abroad.
This year’s jury members of the award were Emin Alper, Rakel Dink, Tanıl Bora, Mozn Hassan, Şafak Pavey, Osman Kavala, Füsun Üstel, Robert Guediguian, Moly Melching and Viviana Krsticevic.
