Clinton honors project by Sabancı Foundation

ISTANBUL

Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı (L) is presented a certificate by former US President Bill Clinton (C) for ‘Girls Not Brides’ project.

During the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York, former U.S. president Bill Clinton honored Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı for her “Girls Not Brides” initiative.

After a speech from current U.S. President Barack Obama on the need to support women, CGI President Bill Clinton talked about the “Girls Not Brides” initiative of the Sabancı Foundation to the attendants and awarded Sabancı with a certificate.

Clinton stated that 10 million girls every year were forced to marry without their consent, 25,000 every day and 19 every minute. He said Sabancı was going to great efforts to try to solve this problem in Turkey.

Sabancı, who received the Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2011, reiterated her commitment to the projects during the meeting.

In a panel hosted by Sabancı Foundation, the issue of early marriages was discussed. Sabancı said she supported the Flying Broom Association’s “Girls Not Brides” project, as well as the Muş Women’s Association’s “Early Marriages Are Not Fate” project.

“This year, we have brought our struggle against child brides into the global arena. There are so many steps we can take together for the solution,” she said.