Elmas
Arus, Turkish film director of Roma origin, awarded the Raoul Wallenberg Prize
Strasbourg, The jury of the Council of Europe Raoul
Wallenberg Prize awarded its first-ever prize to Elmas Arus, a young Roma film
director from Turkey. The 2014 prize recognises Ms Arus’ outstanding
contributions to raising awareness about the conditions of the Roma people in
Turkey and elsewhere. She has sought to improve their situation, particularly
that of Roma women, and to bring discrimination against them to the forefront
of political debate.
“The hard work carried out by Elmas Arus, with courage
and perseverance, is a truly impressive contribution to the fight against
deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination suffered by Roma populations all over
our continent,” said Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, as he announced the
jury’s decision.
Between 2001 and 2010, Ms Arus and a group of
volunteers from her university visited more than 400 Roma neighbourhoods in 38
cities in Turkey. They produced 360 hours of documentation, and created an
hour-long documentary on the challenges of the different Roma groups in Turkey.
Subsequently, Ms Arus established the Zero Discrimination Organisation, which
has paved the way for other similar groups: there are now over 200 Roma
associations in Turkey. Her work has played a crucial role in the elaboration
of the Turkish government’s “Roma opening” policy of 2009.
The award ceremony of the prize -which amounts to
10.000 euros- will take place on 17 January 2014 at the Council of Europe
headquarters in Strasbourg.
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar