Trans in Türkiye: The UN ‘breathed life back into my dreams’

first glance, one would not notice the tumultuous journey that Shiraz has faced in order to find her place in the world. She is studying programming, and dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. She enjoys belly dancing, with her TikTok videos racking up thousands of views and likes. However, the perceptive observer would notice scars … Read moreTrans in Türkiye: The UN ‘breathed life back into my dreams’

Türkiye: Rebuilding lives in quake-affected communities

Despite progress in clearing debris, the city still wears a haunting emptiness that is slowly returning to community life, thanks to support from the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). Emel and her family were lucky to survive. Yet, their survival came at the heavy cost of losing everything they held dear. “My husband and … Read moreTürkiye: Rebuilding lives in quake-affected communities

UN: Deal reached with Syria to reopen main border crossing from Türkiye

For the next six months, the Bab al-Hawa border crossing will be accessible and allow much-needed assistance to reach millions of people in northwest Syria. Bab al-Hawa has been used since 2014, when the UN Security Council authorized cross-border relief deliveries “across conflict lines”. Around 85 per cent of aid deliveries have passed through Bab … Read moreUN: Deal reached with Syria to reopen main border crossing from Türkiye

Türkiye: Protecting cultural heritage after the earthquakes

It marks the start of a wider effort to support the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in protecting damaged artifacts, ahead of full restoration. The deliveries took place two months after major earthquakes caused the deaths of at least 50,000 people, displaced more than 3.3 million, and caused an estimated $103.6 billion in damage. “These … Read moreTürkiye: Protecting cultural heritage after the earthquakes

First Person: Türkiye earthquake – 60 seconds of terror

“Like hundreds of thousands of other people in South-Eastern Türkiye I was fast asleep when the world started to shake. I don’t really know how to describe to anyone who hasn’t felt an earthquake, let alone one of the biggest ever recorded in this region.  It’s just completely surreal. The floor and the walls were … Read moreFirst Person: Türkiye earthquake – 60 seconds of terror

Türkiye: UN experts call for end to harassment of human rights defenders |

“We have documented many cases where counter-terrorism legislation and other criminal provisions have been used to harass, arrest, detain and convict civil society actors in Türkiye, including Dr. Fincancı, on spurious grounds”, the experts said in a statement. Blurred charges On 26 October, Ms. Fincancı, who helped develop UN reference standards on the investigation and … Read moreTürkiye: UN experts call for end to harassment of human rights defenders |