Safak Pavey

Şafak Pavey is a member of the Turkish Parliament representing Istanbul for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). She serves on the EU-Turkey Accession Committee and is an UN independent human rights expert. Şafak Pavey is known for her international work in the field of human rights, humanitarian aid and peace building with a background embracing diplomacy, activism and politics. She worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on missions in the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Central Europe. She served the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as the head of secretariat. After winning a parliamentary seat in June 2011, she became the first disabled female member of the Turkish parliament and continues to advocate the rights of vulnerable populations; women, children, disabled persons and minority communities in Turkey. Pavey was a columnist of the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos and has published three books. She holds a bachelor degree in international relations and postgraduate degrees specialising in "nationalism, ethnicity and minority rights" from London School of Economics. In addition to various honours, Şafak Pavey was recently awarded with the JCI World's Outstanding Young Person Award and 2012 “International Woman of Courage Award” by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama.