Şafak Pavey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Şafak Pavey
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| Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 9 July 2015 – 1 November 2015 |
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| Speaker | İsmet Yılmaz |
| Serving with | Naci Bostancı Koray Aydın Yurdusev Özsökmenler |
| Preceded by | Güldal Mumcu |
| Succeeded by | Akif Hamzaçebi |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 12 June 2011 – 25 October 2017 |
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| Constituency | İstanbul (I) (2011, June 2015, Nov 2015) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 July 1976 Ankara, Turkey |
| Political party | Republican People's Party (CHP) |
| Spouse |
Paul Pavey
(m. 1995–1997) |
| Alma mater | University of Westminster, London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Diplomat, columnist and politician |
Şafak Pavey (born on July 10, 1976) is a Turkish diplomat, writer, and politician. She was a member of the Turkish Parliament, representing Istanbul. She is known for being the first disabled woman elected to the Turkish Parliament. She also served on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In 1996, before her 20th birthday, Şafak Pavey was in a train accident in Switzerland. This accident led to the amputation of her left arm and left leg. Despite this, she went on to have a remarkable career. In 2012, the United States Department of State honored her with the International Women of Courage Award. She resigned from parliament in 2017 due to health reasons.
Early Life and Education
Şafak Pavey was born in Ankara, Turkey, on July 10, 1976. Her mother, Ayşe Önal, is a well-known journalist and writer. In 1994, Şafak moved to Switzerland to study art and film.
On May 24, 1996, she was involved in a serious train accident in Zurich. She was badly injured, and as a result, her left arm and left leg were amputated. After recovering, she moved to London a year later to continue her education. She studied international relations at the University of Westminster. She then completed her advanced studies at the London School of Economics.
Career Highlights
Şafak Pavey worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She managed external relations and humanitarian aid in several countries. These included Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, and Syria. She also served as a spokesperson for UNHCR in Central Europe. Later, she led the human rights treaty body secretariat at the UN Human Rights Office.
She wrote columns for Agos, a Turkish-Armenian newspaper in Istanbul. She has also written three books. One of her books, 13 Numarali Peron (Platform Number 13), tells the story of her train accident. She wrote it with her mother, Ayşe Önal, and it became a best-seller in Turkey. She also worked with Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi on a book about refugee rights in Iran.
After living abroad for 15 years, Şafak Pavey returned to Turkey in 2011. She decided to run for a seat in the Turkish Parliament. In 2012, she left her job at the United Nations. She was then elected as a Deputy for Istanbul Province. She joined the Republican People's Party (CHP). This made her the first disabled woman to become a member of the Turkish Parliament.
As a Member of Parliament, she was part of several important committees. These included committees related to Turkey's relationship with the European Union. She also served as a vice-chair for parliamentary friendship groups with South Korea and Norway. She was later appointed as one of the CHP's deputy chairpersons. In this role, she focused on environmental and social policies.
Awards and Recognition
Şafak Pavey has received several important awards for her work and courage:
- International Woman of Courage Award from the US Department of State.
- Outstanding Young Person of the World Award from Junior Chamber International.
- Secularist of the Year 2014 by the UK National Secular Society.
See also
In Spanish: Şafak Pavey para niños
