Famous Turkish actor Demet Evgar is announced as the first National Goodwill Ambassador of UN Women Turkey
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Besides being an actor, Demet Evgar is a strong defender of women's rights and gender equality who advocates through her TV series and movies.
The announcement of Evgar as UN Women Turkeys’ first National Goodwill Ambassador was made at a launch event in Istanbul, gathering officials, media, civil society and youth on 7 March. It detailed Evgar’s planned collaboration and kicked off the #IamaWoman/#BenKadınım Campaign, which will be co-run by UN Women and Evgar over the coming two years.
Speaking at the event, Evgar shared her feelings about her new role: “It gives me great honour to become a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women. I have been supporting women’s rights both in my private and professional life. Being selected for this title shows me that I am on the right path. The title comes with great honour but also important responsibility. Being aware of this, I aim to strengthen my efforts to empower women and support achieving gender equality in collaboration with UN Women. I would like to make the real-life stories of women visible and inspire other women through creating women’s solidarity.”
Emphasizing the importance of art to transforming society, UN Women Turkey Country Director Asya Varbanova pointed out that collaboration with Evgar is a key step to reach women from different corners of Turkey, and to bring visibility to their stories: “As an influential role model and an actor with a strong belief in equality, Demet Evgar will play an important role in our aim of empowering women and achieving gender equality. Together with her, we will make the real-life stories of women visible. Women should not take the supporting roles but be the lead actors of their own lives. When more women realize their potential, speak up for their rights, use available mechanisms to combat inequality and demand further change, we come closer to the equal future we strive for.”
Together with UN Women, Evgar will draw a road map to support empower women and girls. The goal is to reach as many as possible from all around Turkey and beyond, help their stories be heard by everyone, and pave the way for women through art. To this end, UN Women kicked-off the #IamaWoman/ #BenKadınım campaign with Evgar making a banner and hanging it in a public space in Istanbul. Supported by dozens of celebrities, including HeForShe Advocate Kerem Bürsin, the campaign video was watched and supported by more than 15 million followers.
#IamaWoman aims to provide new spaces and opportunities for women to discover their potential, become aware of their rights, make real women’s stories visible and build women’s solidarity to support transformative change. The two-year campaign will be run together with Evgar and encourage women not to stay silent against gender-based inequalities and violence.