GLOBAL COUNCIL OF TURK COMMUNITIES AND HERITAGE TO JOIN AMBASSADOR RANJEETA PRIYADARSHINI'S GLOBAL SUMMIT ON PAID PERIOD LEAVE IN NEW YORK
GCTCH President Ambassador Emmett Imani to Serve as Panelist, Bringing the Voices of Turk Women to an International Forum Dedicated to Women's Health, Dignity, and Workplace Equality
Washington D.C. | October 14, 2026
The Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage (GCTCH) announces its participation in the Global Summit on Paid Period Leave, scheduled for October 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at UNCC, United Nations Plaza, New York.
The summit, led by Ambassador Ranjeeta Priyadarshini and hosted by the RISE Foundation (Ranjeeta Initiative for Social Empowerment), will bring together international advocates, policymakers, community leaders, and representatives of civil society to address one of the most overlooked issues affecting women in the workplace: the need for greater understanding, support, and protection during menstruation.
Ambassador Emmett Imani, President of the Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage and Deputy Director of the UNESCO Center for Peace, will participate as a panelist, advocating for greater recognition of the challenges faced by Turk women and ensuring that their concerns contribute to this important international conversation.
Ambassador Ranjeeta Priyadarshini: Bringing a Personal Struggle to the World Stage
Behind the Global Summit on Paid Period Leave is the determination of a woman who turned a difficult personal experience into an international campaign for dignity and workplace fairness.
Ambassador Ranjeeta Priyadarshini, an Indian social activist and founder of the Paid Period Leave campaign, has dedicated years to challenging the silence surrounding menstrual health and the difficulties women face when their physical well-being conflicts with workplace expectations.
Her advocacy began with her own experience of being denied leave while experiencing menstrual pain. Rather than accepting that treatment as an unavoidable reality of working life, she began campaigning for policies that recognize women's health needs without placing their employment or financial security at risk.
What began as an individual effort has since grown into an international movement, reaching policymakers, employers, social organizations, and advocates across multiple countries.
Through international conferences, public discussions, and sustained engagement with decision-makers, Priyadarshini has helped bring paid period leave into conversations about workplace equality and human dignity.
The October 19 summit represents a continuation of that mission.
Under the RISE Foundation's guiding principles of Educate, Empower, and Equalize, the gathering seeks to encourage a more compassionate and informed understanding of women's health, while promoting workplace policies that recognize the realities of menstruation and the importance of protecting women's economic independence.
The summit's message, "Healthy Women, Stronger Societies, A Fairer World," reflects a belief that societies cannot achieve meaningful equality while overlooking the health and dignity of half their population.
GCTCH: Bringing the Voices of Turk Women to the International Stage
For the Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage, participation in the summit reflects its commitment to extending its mission beyond cultural preservation and heritage into the protection of human dignity and the advancement of underrepresented communities.
Turk women live across a vast geographic landscape, from Central Asia and the Caucasus to the Middle East, Europe, and communities throughout the world. Their experiences differ according to the societies in which they live, but their voices deserve to be heard in international discussions concerning healthcare, employment, education, equality, and human rights.
As President of GCTCH, Ambassador Emmett Imani intends to use the summit to draw attention to these concerns and emphasize the importance of giving Turk women greater visibility in international forums.
Speaking ahead of the event, Ambassador Imani stated:
"I believe Ambassador Ranjeeta Priyadarshini deserves recognition for bringing an issue that has remained in the shadows for far too long into the international spotlight. Her work reminds us that meaningful change often begins when one person refuses to accept injustice as normal."
He continued:
"As President of the Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage, I consider it both a duty and a personal responsibility to stand up for the women of our communities. Turk women have contributed enormously to our history, our cultures, our families, and our societies. Yet too often, their struggles are discussed without their voices being heard. I intend to use this international platform to help change that."
Ambassador Imani also emphasized that menstrual health and workplace dignity should not be treated as issues concerning women alone.
"No woman should ever have to choose between her health, her dignity, and her livelihood. This is not merely a women's issue. It is a matter of humanity. As men, as leaders, and as members of society, we share the responsibility to ensure that women are treated with the dignity and understanding they deserve."
A Global Conversation That Must Lead to Meaningful Change
The Global Summit on Paid Period Leave comes amid growing international discussions about workplace health, gender equality, and the importance of policies that accommodate women's needs without discrimination or financial disadvantage.
The October 19 gathering seeks to encourage dialogue among policymakers, healthcare professionals, employers, human rights advocates, and civil society leaders on how better workplace practices can support women's health and economic participation.
For GCTCH, the summit also offers an opportunity to strengthen relationships with international organizations and advocates working toward common humanitarian goals.
The Council recognizes Ambassador Priyadarshini's determination in advancing this cause and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to an initiative that encourages understanding, compassion, and practical solutions.
"There is something deeply meaningful about a movement that begins with one woman's struggle and grows into a conversation involving people from different nations, cultures, and backgrounds," Ambassador Imani said.
"We may come from different parts of the world, speak different languages, and carry different histories, but human dignity belongs to all of us. When a woman suffers in silence because her workplace refuses to recognize her health needs, that is not simply her problem. It is a failure of our collective understanding."
Beyond the Summit: A Continuing Commitment
GCTCH views its participation in the Global Summit on Paid Period Leave as part of a longer commitment to promoting dialogue, representation, and equal opportunities for Turk communities around the world.
The Council intends to continue raising awareness of issues affecting women, young people, and underrepresented populations while encouraging cooperation among civil society organizations and international advocates.
Ambassador Imani concluded:
"Our heritage tells us where we come from, but our actions determine what we leave behind. I want future generations of Turk women to inherit more than the memory of our past. I want them to inherit a world in which their dignity is protected, their voices are respected, and their opportunities are not limited by silence or indifference.
When we stand up for women's dignity, we stand up for humanity itself."
About the Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage
The Global Council of Turk Communities and Heritage (GCTCH) is an international civil society organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage, historical identity, and traditions of Turk communities while promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, human dignity, and international cooperation.
Under the leadership of its President, Ambassador Emmett Imani, the Council seeks to strengthen the representation of Turk communities in global discussions and advocate for their cultural, social, and humanitarian interests.
Website: https://gctch.org
About RISE Foundation and the Global Summit on Paid Period Leave
The Ranjeeta Initiative for Social Empowerment (RISE) Foundation is an initiative dedicated to education, empowerment, and equality.
Through the leadership and advocacy of Ambassador Ranjeeta Priyadarshini, the Paid Period Leave movement seeks to encourage employers, governments, and institutions to recognize menstrual health as an important component of women's dignity, well-being, and workplace participation.
The Global Summit on Paid Period Leave brings together international voices to promote awareness, encourage dialogue, and support more inclusive workplace practices.
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