The Team

Natalia graduated from the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the Moldova State University and received a master's degree in social work from the State Pedagogical University. She began working at the GENDERDOC-M Information Center in 1998. For several years, she volunteered in the organization, while simultaneously working in the Moldovan Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. In 2001, she joined the GENDERDOC-M Information Center on a permanent basis as an administrative assistant. She was involved in the formation of the library fund and work with beneficiaries. In 2006, she was appointed to the position of Coordinator of the regional program, where she developed LGBT-movement and relations with other organizations in different regions of the republic. In 2008, she became the Coordinator of the organization's capacity development program, where she conducted information events, seminars, and trainings for the LGBT community, as well as for specialists in various fields working in Moldova and other post-Soviet countries. In 2011, she headed the health and social well-being program for the LGBT community. She conducted seminars and trainings for students of various universities and specialists in various fields on the topic “Basic aspects of sexual orientation and gender identity”. Natalia also developed a self-help group for parents of LGBT+ children and monitored the Moldovan mass media . In 2014, she coordinated the work of the community center. Since 2015, she has been an assistant in the LGBT+ Health Program. In 2018, she was the Secretary of the KAP (Key Affected Populations) Committee of Moldova. In 2021, Natalia Ozturk was awarded the Caring Heart award, which is given to human rights defenders for the courage and hard work in promoting the rights of LGBT+ people.