Gülfer Kırbaş, the women’s rights activist rebuilding communities in Türkiye

In February 2023, a series of catastrophic earthquakes shook Türkiye, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and displacing millions. Among the hardest-hit regions was Adıyaman, where the struggle to rebuild continues even today. 

Gülfer Kırbaş has been living and working since early 2023 in Adıyaman. Even now, she faces physical hardships while helping others rebuild their lives. This isn’t the first crisis she has confronted - during the pandemic, she found ways to educate women confined to their homes, ensuring they didn’t lose access to learning and support.

Born in 1987 in Eskişehir, Türkiye, Kırbaş grew up in a modest family that struggled with limited resources. She earned a degree in political science and public administration from Hacettepe University. Still, her passion for women’s rights and social justice led her to pursue a master’s degree in Women's Studies at Kocaeli University.

She and her younger sister were encouraged to pursue education and independence from an early age. Her mother’s unwavering support played a crucial role in shaping her path. During these formative years, Kırbaş first committed herself to advocating for children’s and women’s rights, which became a cause that would define her life’s work.

Early years of activism

Kırbaş’s journey has not been without challenges. In the neighborhoods where she grew up, little was expected of girls beyond finishing school, and pursuing higher education was rare. “There were no big expectations other than from my mother because, in the neighborhood where I grew up, there were no other girls my age going to university,” she recalls.

She was deeply influenced by her mother’s unfulfilled longing for education and the opportunities she had missed in her youth. “She tried to provide us with the opportunities she could not access herself,” Kırbaş reflects.

Their mother often reminded them of their responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless and a light in the dark. “You will grow up and be a voice for those girls who cannot access these opportunities,” she would say. For Kırbaş, this was not just encouragement - it became a lifelong mission.

While studying, she led the Volunteer Education Project, working to support girls' education in underserved regions. This initiative reflected her mother's dreams and Kırbaş’s growing awareness of the systemic barriers facing women and girls. “My mother knew that many girls today still do not have access to the opportunities she missed out on while growing up,” Kırbaş explains. “She always placed a sense of responsibility on me.”

From the pandemic to the earthquake aftermath

In Türkiye, the fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment continues, challenged by deep-rooted social and cultural barriers. The earthquakes of February 6, 2023, further complicated this landscape, devastating communities and displacing countless families.

Kırbaş’s commitment to women-centered initiatives began even before the earthquake. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she faced a different kind of crisis. “There was a crisis; women could no longer leave their homes, and how would they access this education? My job was to provide education to those women,” she recalls.

Although she was not personally affected by the earthquake, unlike the pandemic, she felt compelled to help. “Finding a way to get here was my first problem; how do I go? Do I want to go? Yes, I want to go, but how do I solve it and do something effective there?”

A community of care: Whether through a hug, a conversation, or a shared activity, Gülfer Kırbaş fosters a sense of belonging and hope among women in Adıyaman container city. Photo: UN Women/Danijel Rakić

Once she arrived, the scale of the devastation was undeniable. “Adıyaman is one of the provinces most affected by the earthquakes. Many public services are not being effectively provided,” Kırbaş notes. The disaster exposed the heightened vulnerabilities of women in crises, reinforcing the importance of gender-focused relief efforts.

Since the third week after the first earthquake, Kırbaş and her team have been working to address the destruction, focusing on supporting women. “We already know that women are more affected and affected differently by disasters, but it is necessary to make this visible to all practitioners and public actors,” she states. Their efforts in Maraş and Adıyaman aim to meet women's specific needs and raise awareness about these challenges.

“We already know that women are more affected and affected differently by disasters, but it is necessary to make this visible to all practitioners and public actors.” – Gülfer Kırbaş

Strengthening communities through solidarity and mutual support has been central to their work. Kırbaş recalls how women first bonded while living in tents after the earthquake and maintained that sense of community even after moving into container homes. Through initiatives such as opening courses, knitting, and sewing, they have experienced the empowering effects of coming together. “We want this to continue, meaning we want such communities to increase.” 

Turning emotion into action

A notable aspect of Kırbaş’s activism is her ability to channel emotions into positive action. Beyond her advocacy work, she finds a creative outlet in translating children’s books - an activity that aligns with her broader mission.

One story that resonates deeply with her is about anger saving the world. “We must not forget this anger because we see many harms caused by human errors, and we need to have anger against these,” she explains. But for Kırbaş, anger is not just about frustration; it’s a force for transformation.

Empowering women, transforming the world

The struggle of women everywhere gives us the power to move.” – Gülfer Kırbaş

Today, Kırbaş serves as co-founder and co-general coordinator of the Chamber Civil Initiative Association, continuing her mission to empower women and advocate for human rights. She works directly with communities, providing education and support to those who need it most. “Each of our struggles empowers another woman in a different geography,” she says. “The struggle of women everywhere gives us the power to move.”

Hope in motion: With an unstoppable spirit, Gülfer Kırbaş moves through Adıyaman, helping women rebuild their lives with strength and solidarity. Photo: UN Women/Danijel Rakić

For Kırbaş, every step forward contributes to a larger movement. “I want all women to take pride in this and to be aware of it,” she emphasizes, calling for collective action. Her work embodies the principles of the “Peace and Security” area of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a voluntary, action-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda, demonstrating that centering women in crisis recovery fosters resilience and lasting change.

I believe that all women, with all their efforts, can turn the world around.” – Gülfer Kırbaş

In the temporary living areas of Adıyaman, women have become the backbone of their families. Under Kırbaş’s mentorship, they cook, sew, and knit together, turning shared hardships into a source of strength. More than just support, these networks have become a force for lasting change, the one that Kırbaş continues to nurture through her work.

Her story is one of unwavering commitment to social justice. From a young girl growing up with limited opportunities to a leader fighting for women’s rights, her journey highlights the power of education, solidarity, and action. “I draw inspiration from this,” she reflects. “And I believe that all women, with all their efforts, can turn the world around.”

This story is a part of the Beijing+30 regional communications campaign ‘Unstoppable’, aimed at marking the 30^th commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The views expressed in this story are those of the protagonist and the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations, or any of its affiliated organizations.