Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) organized a series of events at its centers around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8. With the March 8 International Women’s Day, announced by the United Nations in 1977, it is aimed to contribute to the awareness of women’s rights around the world on the basis of human rights by celebrating the scientific, economic, political and social achievements of women.

Many Anatolian mystics and philosophers from Hoca Ahmed Yesevi to Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, Yunus Emre to Mevlana, who have an important place in training of mystics, raised the Anatolian wisdom tradition and accepted by UNESCO as a symbolic figure due to their ideas on gender equality, have many messages showing that men and women have equal rights and responsibilities in social life. Based on this wisdom tradition, Yunus Emre Institute carried out cultural and artistic activities around the world on this special day, celebrated  for the 47th time on March 8 2022. As part of International Women’s Day, conferences and talk programs were held in the organization of Yunus Emre Institute’s centers in Abuja, Azaz, Johannesburg, Cairo and Rome, while events such as theatre, art exhibition, jewelry exhibition, concert and documentary screening were organized. 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN AZAZ

In cooperation with Azaz Yunus Emre Institute and Şafak Association, International Women’s Day was celebrated with various events throughout the day in Azaz on 8 March.

Women from different cities of the Syrian Safe Zone participated in the celebrating events, including theatre, conference, documentary screening, art exhibition, and award ceremony for the women who became prominent with their achievements.

Hüseyin Taha, General Manager of Şafak Association, which operates in the fields of education, culture and arts in Turkey and Syrian Safe Zone, gave information about the social and cultural activities they carry out in the Safe Zone as an association in the opening speech of the program. In his speech, Taha said, ‘’It made us very happy that all women, especially Syrian women who are victims of war, are commemorated with the program we organized together with Yunus Emre Institute on such a meaningful day, and that International Women’s Day is celebrated. We know that tomorrow will be built with mothers who love their homeland and think about the future of their nation.’’

The program, consisting of many different events, continued with a theatre show. In the silent theatre show ‘’Women Aspect of Pain in Syria’’, the trauma left by the war on children and women was portrayed.

In the conference titled ‘’Women Aspect of Success in Syria’’, three Syrian women who saw the war but never lost their hope made a speech. Poet Hitam Elhamud in his speech enriched with his poems; stated that leaving aside the difficulty of being a woman in the geography of war, Syria needs women who pursue happiness, peace, and enlightenment.

Physiotherapist Esma Zemzem said in her speech, ‘’My husband was arrested by the regime and has been in prison for years without charge. Despite all the difficulties, I have never given up fighting for my children, for my country, for my cause. I don’t even know if my husband is alive or not. But he left the dream of a new Syria to me and my children. On this beautiful day devoted to us, we must put women’s labor and power on the basis of our happy future, the New Syria.’’

Fatma Elbakkur, who spent 7 years in regime prisons, described her experiences during the war in her speech as follows:

‘’I was tortured and raped for years. They even made me forget my humanity; I lost an eye. My husband and one son were martyred for the Syrian cause. I left my humanity in prisons. I don’t want to talk about problems on this beautiful day. Even though I was exposed to so much evil and lived in the camp, I did not lose hope. Long live New Syria; long live free Syria.’’

After the presentation of awards to the women who became prominent with their achievements in the Safe Zone and set an example for society, Azaz Yunus Emre Institute Director Fikret Çıtak said the following in his closing speech:

As Yunus Emre Institute, we are happy with the joint efforts and cooperation moves we have made with associations and foundations in the Safe Zone. Organizing the Women’s Day program with the Şafak Association shows that we can strengthen our cooperation with different projects in the future. This meaningful day is celebrated in different parts of the world under the umbrella of the Institute, and various programs are performed.  I congratulate the International Women’s Day of all women who are the architects of ‘good past’ and ‘productive future’ with their compassion, courage, and work ethic. As someone who believes that time should be lived together with the masculine and feminine mentality, I respectfully bow to brave women of Syria in the face of the understanding that gives a day to women.’’ The program ended with refreshments after the opening of the exhibition ‘’Because You Can’’, where the works of Syrian women artists were exhibited. The art exhibition will be available to visit for free till 17th March 2022.

SPECIAL JEWELRY EXHIBITION FOR MARCH 8 IN CAIRO

The jewelry exhibition was held on the occasion of ‘’March 8, International Women’s Day’’ in cooperation with Cairo Yunus Emre Institute and Mardin Artuklu University in the Turkish Embassy in Cairo.

Along with Turkey’s Cairo Charge D’affaires Kemalettin Eruygur, embassy employees, Cairo Yunus Emre Institute Director Emin Boyraz, Commercial Counsellor Hakan Atay and Atilla Yenigün, Turkish citizens living in Egypt, and Egyptian guests participated in the program held at the embassy residence.

Turkey’s Cairo Charge D’affaires Eruygur said, ‘’It is certain that every piece of jewelry presented to us in this exhibition today is a work that emerged as a result of handicraft. In fact, the construction of each of them has been made possible owing to hundreds of years of knowledge and long-standing tradition, preserved to the present day and embodied in competent hands.’’

EEruygur also stated that it is very meaningful that this exhibition, which emerged as a result of the association of traditions with labor, is being held on March 8, International Women’s Day.

Assoc. Prof. Nesrin Yeşilmen, in her statement, indicated that as academics and artists of Mardin Artuklu University, they participated in this program with three exhibitions.

Thanking the Turkish Embassy in Cairo and Cairo Yunus Emre Institute for their warm welcome, Yeşilmen said, ‘’Today, three exhibitions are presented to the audience. The first one is ‘’Trace of the Chest’’. It is a series and collection of my works. Our second exhibition belongs to our teacher, Fatih Yeşilmen. He organized an exhibition titled ‘Hatai Jewelry.’ ‘’

Yeşilmen indicated that the third exhibition is ‘’The Journey of Filigree to Ancient Egypt’’ by Sabahattin Akgül, a lecturer at the Midyat Vocational School who was influenced by Egyptians as a result of his research without having come to Egypt before.

Rector of Mardin Artuklu University Prof. İbrahim Özcoşar expressed that he was pleased that this exhibition, which was prepared by being influenced by two ancient civilizations, Egypt and Mesopotamia, was presented here on such a meaningful day.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a talk and exhibition program titled ‘’Traditional Jewelry Art’’ was held at the Cairo Yunus Emre Institute.

ARCH 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENT ORGANIZED IN NIGERIA

Abuja Yunus Emre Institute organized an event to celebrate March 8 International Women’s Day in Nigeria. In addition to Alper Haner, Second Secretary at Turkish Embassy in Abuja and Nigeria Yunus Emre Institute Director Macit Koç, many guests attended the event held at Yunus Emre Institute center, which opened in the capital Abuja.

Koç noted that they organized an event in accordance with today’s meaning to show their respect, support, and love to Nigerian women.

Explaining that women in Africa earn a living for their families in the early hours of the morning, Koç said, ‘’We invited these hardworking women to our center, both to introduce them to the Yunus Emre Institute center in Abuja and to be part of our activities in the future.’’

SPECIAL CONCERT FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IN CAPE TOWN

In cooperation with Johannesburg Yunus Emre Institute and Turkish-South African Youth Organization (TURKSAY), March 8 International Women’s Day event was arranged in Cape Town, South Africa.

Sinan Yeşildağ, Turkish Consulate General in Cape Town, and students of TURKSOY, Consul officers, women politicians of South Africa, academics, and artists attended the event at the historic Castle of Cape Town.

South African opera singer Esihle Nhkelo gave a concert with her compositions, depicting the struggle for women’s rights.

Following the event, participants visited the Cape Muslim Heritage Museum.

The new portrait of Ottoman scholar Ebubekir Efendi, who was sent to South Africa in 1863 by Sultan Abdulaziz to teach Islam and died in Cape Town in 1880 after serving 17 years, was also exhibited at the event.

Koç noted that they organized an event in accordance with today’s meaning to show their respect, support, and love to Nigerian women.

Explaining that women in Africa earn a living for their families in the early hours of the morning, Koç said, ‘’We invited these hardworking women to our center, both to introduce them to the Yunus Emre Institute center in Abuja and to be part of our activities in the future.’’

‘’WOMEN, HEALTH AND AESTHETICS’’ PROGRAM IN ROME

A conference on ‘’Women, Health and Aesthetics’’ was held at the Rome Yunus Institute on March 8, International Women’s Day, and organized an opening of an exhibition. In addition to the exhibition consisting of photographic works by pathologist Doctor Vittoria Lombardo that combine science and art, a conference was also arranged with the participation of experts in the fields of medicine, art, and aesthetics. In addition to many guests, the Ambassador of Turkey to Vatican, Lütfullah Göktaş and Elvan Hacıefendioǧlu, First Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in Rome, also attended the event.

Sevim Aktaş, Institute Director, made the opening speech of the conference, delivered a presentation on ‘’Important Women Characters in the History of Turkey and Women in Turkish Culture.’’ Speaking after the presentation Dr. Vittoria Lombardo, on the other hand, mentioned the diseases she discovered in her scientific research and revealed in her photographic studies, caused by the shape of cells, and how these studies can be useful in the early diagnosis of conditions that may be risky for women’s health.

One of the guests of the conference, Anna Maria Pollak, Ruota Internazionale delle Donne Association President, explained the importance of helping women and children with the examples, especially in developing countries. Respected names in the field of science attending the conference, Prof. Massimo Papi, Prof. Vincenza Ferrara, Prof. Additionally, Anadela Serra Visconti gathered great appreciation from the guests with interesting topics such as ‘’women’s skin in terms of health and beauty throughout history’’, ‘’the language of iconography in medicine’’, ‘’beauty and the secrets of long life.’’

Finally, the famous art historian Prof. Vittorio De Bonis enriched the conference with his speech on ‘’Art Between East and West.’’