European Turkish Women Ambassadors: A Second Gathering in Brussels, A Growing Legacy
On 14 May 2025, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted the second edition of the European Turkish Women Ambassadors event, an initiative designed to highlight the achievements of women of Turkish origin living across Europe. Organized by Fabrique A ASBL in collaboration with MEP Lukas Sieper, the event once again attracted wide attention and participation.
Last year’s ambassadors — Gizem Pideci, Mine Yıldız, and Fadime Göktaş — handed over the symbolic title to this year’s new ambassadors: Özlem Mertoğlu (entrepreneur), Tuba Bircan (academic), and İrem Selen Korkmazer (fashion designer).
A Process Rooted in Solidarity, Not Competition
One of the most frequently asked questions about the initiative has been how the ambassadors are selected. Unlike traditional awards or juried recognitions, this initiative follows a unique intergenerational memory model. The project’s creator, Kenan Erer, first shared the idea in 2024 with three pioneering women — Gizem, Fadime, and Mine — envisioning a platform where women with different backgrounds could share their journeys in Europe to inspire others and collaboratively shape new pathways.
There is no jury, vote, or competition — and deliberately so. The goal is not to crown “the most successful woman,” but to foster visibility, mutual recognition, and a sense of legacy. Each ambassador, after a year of engagement, appoints another woman whose profile and story they believe should be heard next. In doing so, the memory and purpose of this journey are passed down from woman to woman.
Art Instead of Awards
Another signature aspect of the initiative is that no medals, plaques, or trophies are handed out. Instead, each year, an artist based in Europe creates a unique artwork to mark the occasion and honor the ambassadors. In 2024, ceramic artist Halil Karakaya presented the first symbolic gifts; this year, Nazife Can, a Brussels-based painter, contributed original paintings dedicated to the three new ambassadors.
A Platform of Representation and Vision
Throughout the event, discussions touched on the structural challenges that women of Turkish origin continue to face in Europe — from cultural stereotyping to lack of representation. Despite varying ideological and social backgrounds, the common thread of gender-based barriers was evident, and collective solutions were sought in a spirit of solidarity.
Kenan Erer, the founder of Fabrique A ASBL, emphasized his ambition to grow this initiative across other European cities and diaspora groups in the coming years.
The European Turkish Women Ambassadors project is not just a moment of recognition — it is the start of a shared journey built on visibility, courage, and generational connection.
