CHP deputy elected Turkey’s most outstanding young person

ANKARA

CHP Bursa deputy Aykan Erdemir. DHA Photo

A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has been selected as Turkey’s most outstanding young person in the field of politics, law and public administration.

CHP Bursa deputy Aykan Erdemir, 40, will now compete to be selected as the outstanding young person of the world. Erdermir was honored for his efforts in fighting against discrimination and hate crimes and his bid to contribute to the development of governance and democracy in Turkey.

“This significant award is a source of morale for my efforts aimed at strengthening fundamental rights and freedoms,” Erdemir said in a video message at the award ceremony held at Istanbul’s Yıldız Technical University earlier this week. He was unable to accept the award in person because he was in Australia to deliver a speech at an interfaith summit held on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.

The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) program serves to formally recognize young people who excel in their chosen fields and exemplify the best attributes of the world’s young people. The program is sponsored by Junior Chamber International (JCI), and the honorees are selected by an international panel of distinguished judges.

Erdemir has been a member of Parliament since June 2011 and serves on the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the EU Harmonization Committee. He is also a member of the ad hoc parliamentary committee on the IT sector and the Internet.