The Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara celebrated its Visibility Week from 19-24 October 2025, bringing together more than 700 partners from public institutions, civil society, academia and international organisations across Türkiye.
“Council of Europe Visibility Week is more than a series of events; it is an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the Council of Europe’s joint work in Türkiye, and to unite stakeholders around the shared values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It enables us to present the achievements of our projects and to reinforce partnerships with national institutions and civil society. Above all, it highlights the importance of sharing our results widely, ensuring that the benefits of our cooperation are widely recognised and contribute to lasting, positive change,” said the Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, William Massolin.
Throughout the week, activities took place in several cities in the country under the theme ‘Human Rights’, with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as migrants, children, youth and Roma, as well as prisoner´s rights. The events included:
- Cascade training for prison personnel on disciplinary and reward mechanisms, conducted in Ordu under the project on Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisons in Türkiye. This activity focused on strengthening humane treatment safeguards and fair procedures in detention settings.
- Regional coordination meeting on individual application violation judgments of the Constitutional Court and the elimination of the consequences of violations, held in Diyarbakır under the joint project Supporting the Effective Implementation of Turkish Constitutional Court Judgments in the Field of Fundamental Rights.
- Field visit related to Roma employment and social inclusion, organised in Diyarbakır within the framework of the Roma Integration III Joint Programme, addressing equal access to rights and services.
- Parents’ Day activity on Digital Citizenship education, conducted in pilot schools in Kuşadası (Aydın), promoting safe, responsible, rights-based digital engagement for children and families.
- International seminar on the Rights of Migrants, hosted in cooperation with Bilkent University, contributing to awareness and understanding of legal safeguards related to migration.
- Closing Conference on Strengthening Human Rights Protection in the Context of Migration, held in Ankara, highlighting achievements and ongoing commitments in this area.
- Open Office Day for university students, providing direct outreach to young people and future professionals, raising awareness on fundamental rights and the Council of Europe’s mission.
Since its establishment in 2004, the Ankara Office has served as a bridge between the Council of Europe and Türkiye, implementing over 40 projects that advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Visibility Week celebrates this enduring partnership and its tangible results for people across the country.
