Peace and Justice: Hacer Foggo

“Women’s poverty does not imply only a lack of income and physical resources, but at the same time the state of being powerless on the streets and at home. The main reasons for this are gender roles, domestic inequality and inequality in education. In these times, standing up to the future anxieties of women and powerlessness created by poverty, to the growing hatred at home and on the streets due to the pandemic, poverty violence and inequality, is not about “aid, charity” - we organized a movement aiming to make structural inequality known, reduced and eventually eliminated. We reached the mother who collected food from dumpsters because she could not access food and who diapered her baby with a plastic bag because she could not buy nappies, we reached a girl who could not access remote education because she did not have a tablet, we reached a 65+ garbage collector woman who had no income because she had to stay at home, we stood in solidarity with a housekeeper who was sent home on unpaid leave.

The founders of 'Deep Poverty Network', the movement we initiated against social injustice and inequality with Covid-19, were, once more, women who have been feeling the effects of inequality since the day they were born. We have no choice but to overcome these troubling times by holding the hand of our sister, who tries to survive along with her growing anger in her single room.”

Human Rights advocate, activist and writer Hacer Foggo tackles neglected problems based on the idea that poverty is a human rights violation. The activist has been working for many years with women and children in poverty specific to Roma communitites and has fought against the urban transformation in Sulukule and Küçükbakkalköy. Foggo, who has organised the foundation of Roma Rights Forum of Turkey, (ROMFO), has supported the opening of several centres where Roma women and children have access to an education. These centres empower the participants by providing literacy, teaching support and vocational trainings. Foggo, who is a board member of Open Space Association, is also the founder of Çimenev Arts and Science Centre that aims to support young people, women and children from various backgrounds in areas such as education, civil society awareness, social entrepreneurship and technology.

During the pandemic she started a campaign with the hashtag #EvindenDeğiştir (#ChangeFromHome) to raise awareness of families, and in particular women and children, who have been facing major problems having access to basic rights such as health, education, clothing and psychological support. In 2015, Foggo was entitled to be one of the three people to receive support from Ashoka, the world’s first and largest network of social entrepreneurs. She is also the author of “Kırmızı Püskül” (Red Tassel) published by Çivi Yazıları Yayınevi (Çivi Yazıları Publishing House).