27/09/2012
Sabanci Foundation Chairman Guler Sabanci Recognized by Former Us President Bill Clinton for commitment to ending child marriages in Turkey and abroad
New York, NY (September 25, 2012) – In a session opened by President Barack Obama at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, Sabancı Foundation Chairman Güler Sabancı was recognized by Founding Chairman of CGI, President Bill Clinton, for her commitment to ending child marriages in Turkey and the rest of the world.
Güler Sabancı was the recipient of the prestigious Clinton Global Citizen Award for her leadership in supporting programs to promote the rights of women and girls in Turkey at the 2011 CGI Annual Meeting. The Sabancı Foundation’s Commitment to Action builds on these efforts to support capacity building initiatives delivered by ‘Girls Not Brides’ (a global partnership to end child marriage) for 60 NGOs from 12 countries and provide continued support for Turkish NGOs working to end child marriages at local and national levels.
Sabancı Foundation Announces Partnership with the Girls not Brides Platform
Parallel to the 2012 CGI Annual Meeting, Sabancı Foundation co-hosted a panel with the Ford Foundation, NoVo Foundation, Girls Not Brides, and The Elders, to discuss new developments and commitments to end child marriages.
Among the speakers were Güler Sabancı, former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland representing The Elders, Ford Foundation President Luis Lubinas, Novo Foundation President Jennifer Buffet, and the Global Coordinator of ‘Girls Not Brides,’ Lakshmi Sundaram.
In her remarks, Güler Sabancı emphasized the importance of working in partnership to end child marriages: “Involvement in this global platform helps build partnerships to leverage resources and know-how in order to end child marriages and create a brighter future for girls all over the world. Sabancı Foundation’s active support and engagement will increase the impact of our work in Turkey while contributing to the efforts of other NGOs across the world. If we are to make a difference in our own countries, we must work together to help make a difference in other countries as well.”
About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.
CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook atfacebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
About Girls Not Brides
In 2010, The Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela, www.theelders.org began reaching out to organizations all over the world to establish the Girls Not Brides Partnership. Comprised of over 180 organizations working to end child marriage all over the world, Girls Not Brides aims to give a voice to girls at risk of child marriage, to defend their rights to health and education, and convince leaders and policymakers to create effective laws and dedicate resources needed to drive change. For more see www.girlsnotbrides.org
About Sabancı Foundation
The Sabancı Foundation was established in 1974 and aims to promote social development and awareness among current and future generations by supporting initiatives that create impact and lasting change in people's lives. The Foundation provides support for education, arts and culture, sport and civil society initiatives that strive to create equal access and opportunities for women, youth and persons with disability. For more see www.sabancivakfi.org
www.sabancivakfi.org
