Women for Women's Human Rights-New Ways Turkey Independent women’s rights activist NGO

Founded in 1993, Women for Women’s Human Rights - New Ways (WWHR) contributed significantly to successful legal reform campaigns in Turkey resulting in the recognition of women’s sexual and bodily autonomy and rights in the Penal Code; full gender equality in the Civil Code; enactment of protection orders; and ministerial bans on virginity testing. The organization also initiated the Coalition for Sexual & Bodily Rights (CSBR) and the Sexuality Institute, which is a network among activists in Muslim societies advocating for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights as human rights. WWHR was awarded the 1999 Leading Solutions Award by the Association for Women in Development, in recognition of its contributions to advancing gender equality and social justice. In 2007, WWHR and CSBR won the Gruber Foundation’s Women’s Rights Prize, in acknowledgement of its contributions to furthering the rights of women and girls.