University of Kyrenia Faculty of Law academician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eylem Ümit Atılgan was awarded the Social Sciences Research Award at the Sedat Simavi Awards of the Turkish Journalists Association for her book “Unjust Provocation: A Right to Manhood”. This prestigious award has been given since 1977 to encourage creative work in the fields of art, culture, science and sports. The awards are given in nine different categories such as journalism, radio, television, caricature, literature, social sciences, science, health sciences and sports, and honour those who have achieved great success in these fields. Atılgan’s book was recognised as a major contribution to the field of social sciences.

The book “Unjust Provocation: A Right of Masculinity” is a striking study focusing on femicide cases. In this work, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atılgan examines how the concept of unjust provocation is used as a tool of masculinity in judicial processes in Turkey through court ethnography. The study is based on an in-depth analysis of case files on femicides and reveals the gender inequality within the legal system. The book, published by İletişim Publishing in 2024, is regarded as an important source of reference in the pursuit of gender justice.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atılgan’s academic interest is not limited to femicides. She has conducted field research on the social and economic problems experienced by women working as hostesses in nightclubs in Northern Cyprus, and in these studies she has addressed the manifestations of gender inequality in different contexts. In addition, through her field research with feminist rights defenders in Italy and feminist lawyers in Turkey, she has gained an international perspective and provided a comprehensive framework for the struggle for women’s rights.

Eylem Ümit Atılgan’s works, which were crowned with this award, have had a great resonance not only in the academic world but also at the social level. Her works, which analyse the relationship between law and gender in depth, make important contributions to feminist literature and serve as a guide for the establishment of gender equality in legal processes. Atılgan’s award once again demonstrates how powerful an impact academic studies can have in the struggle for women’s rights and social justice.