On 15, 16, and 17 October, the United Nations Network on Migration in Türkiye (UNNM), co-chaired by the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations' Resident Coordinator in Türkiye hosted a capacity development workshop for the UNNM members and a briefing for the stakeholders.  The workshop and the briefing aimed to enhance the members' and stakeholders' understanding of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM). The GCM is the first inter-governmental agreement covering international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. The workshop provided detailed insights into the GCM's implementation, follow-up, and review, as well as the role of the UNNM at the global, regional, and national levels.   The workshop and the briefing introduced the GCM Capacity Building Initiatives and served as a platform for discussions on the GCM priority areas and potential steps to enhance safe, orderly, and regular migration in Türkiye, contributing to progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

More than 100 students, faculty members, and academicians gathered at Atılım University to hear Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, give a speech on the global water crisis titled "The Global Water Crisis: United Nations Programmes and Initiatives for Sustainable Solutions.” The event organized by Prof. Hasan Umur Akay, Chair of Automotive Engineering Department highlighted the urgent need for international cooperation and sustainable solutions to address the growing water challenges affecting billions of people around the world.Professor Akay in his opening remarks said that Atılım University selected “water” as the theme for 2024-2025 academic year. Within the scope of the “Water” theme the university has been organizing events. He emphasized the benefits of equal and sustainable use of water resources. Dr. Ahonsi began his speech by commending the university community for their commitment to discussing such a critical issue. “It is a great honor to be here at this distinguished university, and especially to be in the presence of such bright young minds—the future leaders of our world. You are not just the leaders of tomorrow—you are the changemakers of today,” he said. Throughout his address, Dr. Ahonsi emphasized the essential role that water plays in every aspect of life, from health and food security to economic growth and peace. He shared striking global statistics, noting that 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, and 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas of high or extreme water vulnerability. He warned that, “The world is facing a growing water crisis that threatens not just development, but peace itself.”Referring to the United Nations Water Convention, Dr. Ahonsi highlighted the urgent need for cross-border cooperation on water management. “Dwindling water supplies can heighten competition, fueling tensions and even conflict between communities and countries. Secretary-General António Guterres is urging all countries to join the UN Water Convention, which promotes sustainable management of shared water resources.”Dr. Ahonsi urged the audience to recognize the link between water security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, stating, “Without a concerted focus on water, we cannot hope to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”The event was a call to action for the students and faculty in attendance. Dr. Ahonsi concluded his speech with a powerful message about the importance of managing water resources to ensure a sustainable future. “As we look to the future, we must recognize that all our hopes for sustainable development, peace, and prosperity depend on how we manage water. We need a new global water information system, smarter policies, and stronger cooperation.”79th Anniversary of the UNIn addition to addressing the global water crisis, Dr. Ahonsi reflected on the broader mission of the United Nations as it approaches its 79th anniversary. He emphasized the enduring relevance of the UN Charter, which continues to guide global efforts toward peace, justice, and equality. “At its core, the Charter embodies a spirit of resolve: to bridge divides, restore relationships, and foster peace; to create opportunities for all and ensure no one is left behind,” he noted, underscoring the UN’s commitment to addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence.Dr. Ahonsi concluded by highlighting the Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact, and Declaration on Future Generations — three landmark initiatives aimed at fostering a more equitable and sustainable world. “As we celebrate the UN’s 79th anniversary, these documents symbolize our collective hope for a better future. They represent new opportunities to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, accelerate climate action, and ensure technology serves the common good,” he said. Atılım University, in collaboration with the TEMA Foundation, planted a tree in honor of Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi. Prof. Akay had the privilege of presenting Dr. Ahonsi with a certificate commemorating this thoughtful gesture, symbolizing a shared commitment to environmental sustainability and future generations.Dr. Ahonsi’s full speech at Atılım University is at this link. 

Damla Sandal tells her artistic journey, where she uses embroidery to explore gender equality and collective memory. Inspired by her involvement with the Karakutu Association, she founded the “Embroidering Memory” workshops, where art and storytelling merge to discover gender norms and spark conversations on gender equality.“My name is Damla Sandal, and I transform my passion for urban memory, gender equality, and collective memory into various forms of creative expression. These creations are a way of expressing myself, and for some time now, I’ve been doing this through embroidery. The embroidered photographs are part of this journey.I was born in Izmir, and my academic journey led me to Istanbul. My arrival in Istanbul was fueled by curiosity. It’s a city full of charm—its cultural heritage, people, and places are captivating. I explored neighborhoods by allowing myself to get lost in the streets. The more I wandered, the more I realized that this discovery never ends.My path crossed with the Karakutu (Blackbox) Association, and my perspective on the city transformed. Karakutu is a civil society organization that organizes memory walks. It helps young people discover the city through peer-to-peer education methods. During these walks, we share stories about human rights and gender equality.My experiences with Karakutu’s city walks and storytelling shaped my work on urban and collective memory from the perspective of a ‘storyteller.’ I use art as a means to confront the past, raise awareness of human rights violations, discrimination, and gender-based inequalities. Because awareness of the past can serve as a starting point to prevent similar violations in the future. The workshop became a means of making my relationship with embroidery and memory a collective experience. I led the first ‘Embroidering Memory’ workshop using the archives of painter Eleonora Arhelaou at a museum in Istanbul. Arhelaou’s archive includes more than 5,000 photographs. As we explored her collection, Eleonora took us back to the streets she had wandered, to the years when she captured these photos, tracing her cultural roots. For the first workshop, I selected about 30 photographs from this archive. And so, the journey of the ‘Embroidering Memory’ workshop began, with the streets and people photographed by a woman who had created for both the city’s and her own memory.Gender inequality is an issue rooted in everyday life. In the workshop, we have the opportunity to discuss equality and inequality through the gender identities, sexual orientations, and experiences of discrimination of the people in the photos or those who took them.The ‘Embroidering Memory’ workshops, which have been ongoing for two years, are shaped by the participants. By listening to their voices, I shared their desire to bring their own photos and tell their own stories. This has allowed us to delve even deeper.In the stories we bring to the workshop, the stitches we embroider, the faces we preserve, or the flowers we place, we discover our paradoxes regarding gender equality and gender norms in old photos. And we do all of this slowly, delicately, with great care. This, I believe, is the surprising power of art.”Damla Sandal is a member of Karakutu Association that received a small grant under the Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality project, implemented by UN Women and funded by the European Union. She is organizing ‘Embroidery Workshops’ with UN Women.

Jin Davod, a young social entrepreneur and this year’s regional winner for Europe, is one of five trailblazing women honored with the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She drew on her own experience as a refugee to create an online platform that provides mental health support to trauma survivors and people in need of psychological assistance, including free-of-charge services for refugee and local communities in need.“All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But these five winners show how women are also playing a critical role in the humanitarian response and in finding solutions.” Grandi praised their dedication to driving action in their own communities, building grassroots support, and even shaping national policies.Born in Raqqa, Syria, Davod fled with her family to Türkiye in 2014 to escape the conflict. She eventually resumed her education, finishing high school and embarking on a degree in computer engineering. As a second-year university student, she designed and built Peace Therapist, an online platform that matches licensed therapists with people struggling to heal and recover from traumatic events. Crucially, it helps break down language and cultural barriers that often prevent refugees from accessing mental health services. At the Nansen ceremony in Geneva on 14 October, hosted by South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha, Jin said, “It wasn’t my choice to become a refugee, but it is my choice to help refugees. I accept this award on behalf of every person who has faced unimaginable hardship and found the strength to keep going. Together, we are healing from trauma, building resilience, and creating a brighter, more peaceful future for all.” She added, “I want to thank my parents for their endless support, and thank Türkiye for providing a safe haven for me and my family when we needed it most, allowing us to rebuild our lives.”Peace Therapist now has a roster of over 100 psychologists providing therapy in Arabic, English, Kurdish and Turkish, making it uniquely accessible to the refugees it was designed to serve. After the devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria in February 2023, the platform expanded its reach, offering free services and partnering with international organizations to support thousands of people impacted by the disaster from the host community as well. Users say the platform has helped them regain confidence, return to school, find work, and contribute to social cohesion.For her dedication to providing mental health support to refugees and other survivors of trauma, Jin has been selected as the 2024 regional winner for Europe of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.Beyond Europe, this year’s global laureate and the other three regional winners are:Sister Rosita Milesi (Brazil), a nun, lawyer, social worker and movement builder who has championed the rights and dignity of people on the move for nearly 40 years, for which she was conferred the global 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.Maimouna Ba (Africa), an activist from Burkina Faso who helped more than 100 displaced children return to the classroom and put over 400 displaced women on a path to financial independence.Nada Fadol (Middle East & North Africa), a Sudanese refugee who has mobilized essential aid for hundreds of refugee families fleeing to Egypt in search of safety.Deepti Gurung (Asia-Pacific), who campaigned to reform Nepal’s citizenship laws after learning that her two daughters had become stateless – opening a path to citizenship for them and thousands more in similar straits.In addition to the global laureate and regional winners, the people of Moldova received an honourable mention for acting as a beacon of humanity.The event showcased the winners’ work and featured performances by Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham, Moldovan soprano Valentina Nafornita and singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé (MBE). The awards are made possible through support from the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, IKEA Foundation, and the City and Canton of Geneva. They are named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen.