World-Renowned Philosopher and Human Rights Advocate Prof. Dr. İoanna Kuçuradi to Receive the 28th Aydın Doğan Award

The Aydın Doğan Foundation is proud to announce that the 28th Aydın Doğan Award will be presented to Prof. Dr. İoanna Kuçuradi. She has made significant contributions to elevating our country's presence in international cultural and philosophical circles through her extensive work on philosophy and human rights.

In a statement, the Aydın Doğan Foundation announced: ‘The Aydın Doğan Foundation Board of Directors has decided to present the 2024 Aydın Doğan Award to Prof. İoanna Kuçuradi in recognition of her significant contributions to the development of philosophy education and research in Türkiye. She has trained numerous academics in this field, spread philosophical thinking across the country, and successfully represented Türkiye on national and international platforms through her many scientific publications, reports, and books. Her dedication to promoting and defending the concept of human rights, her prestigious role as the UNESCO Chair in Philosophy and Human Rights, and her efforts in raising Türkiye’s profile in international cultural and philosophical arenas further solidify her legacy.’

The award will be presented to Prof. Kuçuradi during a ceremony in Istanbul this November.

A Pioneer of Turkish Philosophy: Prof. İoanna Kuçuradi

Born on 4th October, 1936, in Istanbul, Prof. Kuçuradi graduated from Zapyon Girls' High School in 1954 and from Istanbul University’s Philosophy Department in 1959. She earned her doctorate in 1965, and worked at Erzurum Atatürk University from 1965 to 1968. She became an Associate Professor in 1970 and a Full Professor in 1978. In 1968, she joined Hacettepe University, where she headed the Philosophy Department from its founding in 1969 until October 2003. She also directed the Human Rights and Philosophy Application and Research Center from 1997 to March 2005. Since 1998, she has held the UNESCO Chair in Philosophy and Human Rights. In 2006, Prof. Kuçuradi joined Maltepe University, where she currently serves as the Director of the Human Rights Research and Application Center and the Head of the Human Rights Department.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Kuçuradi has received numerous awards throughout her distinguished career, including:

• Goethe Medal (1996)


• Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy, University of Crete (1996)


• Service Award, Turkish Academy of Sciences (1996)


• Achievement in Science Award, Hacettepe University (1994-1996)


• 75 Women of the Republic Award, Mimoza Magazine (1998)


• Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy, Ricardo Palma University (2000)


• Press Freedom Award, Turkish Journalists Association (2000)


• Grand Cross of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany (2001)


• Honorary Citizen, City of Havana (2002)


• UNESCO Human Rights Education Award, Honorary Mention (2002)


• Mustafa N. Parlar Science Award (2003)


• UNESCO Aristotle Medal (2003)


• Peace, Friendship, and Democracy Award, Diyarbakır Chamber of Medicine (2004)


• Planetary Humanist Philosopher Award, USA (2005)


• Troy Folklore Research Association Award (2005)


• 60 Women Who Contributed to UNESCO's 60 Years (2006)


• 100 Scientists and Intellectuals of Istanbul (2012)


• Social Ethics Association Honor Award (2013)


• Contribution to Human Rights Award, TED Ankara College (2013)


• Strategic Vision Award, Turkish Asian Strategic Research Center (2014)


• Crystal Tulip Award in Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Mümtaz Turhan Social Sciences High School (2014)


• Special Award, Middle East Technical University (2015)


• 35th International Istanbul Book Fair Honorary Author (2016)


• Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival Hope Award (2018)


• 20 Leading Women of Türkiye, European Union Delegation to Türkiye (2019, 2022)


• Lifetime Achievement Award, Forum Istanbul (2019)


• Courageous Women Award, Beykoz University (2019)


• Education Award, Contemporary Education Cooperative (2020)


• High Human Values Award, Üsküdar University (2020)


• Uğur Mumcu Lifetime Achievement Award, Tepebaşı Municipality and Contemporary Journalists (2022)


• Leaders Shaping the Future Award, Betül Mardin (2022)


• Lifetime Achievement Award, MediaCat Women Making a Difference (2022)


• Contribution to Türkiye’s Imagination Award, Imagination Center (2022)


• Republic Award, Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (2023)


• Honorary Doctorate in Law, Athens National and Kapodistrias University (2023)


• Leader Woman in Science Award, Turkish University Women’s Association (2023)


• 91st Language Day Honorary Award, Language Association (2023)


• Honorary Award, FeminISTANBUL International Festival (2023)


• 13th International Crime and Punishment Film Festival Academic Honor Award, Istanbul University (2023)


• Bright Faces of the Century Award, Maltepe Municipality (2024)


• Service in the Profession Award, Rotary Istanbul (2024)


• Women at the Top Award, Üsküdar University (2024)


• Enlightenment Honor Award, New Generation Village Institutes (2024)."