This Project’s overall objective is to ensure rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey fully in line with international and European standards. Improving the effectiveness of family courts in protecting the rights of women, children and other family members is the specific objective of the Project.

The Project aims at equipping judges at family courts and public prosecutors working in the domestic violence bureaus, candidate judges and prosecutors, staff of family courts and experts (pedagogues, psychologists and social workers) with capacities and skills in the areas that would directly contribute to ensuring family justice, individual rights and child friendly justice. Increased specialisation of judges, prosecutors, court staff and experts through trainings in the scope of the Project will address issues of delay and uncertainty and improve consideration of cases involving vulnerable and high-risk service users to alleviate considerable stress for all parties concerned and lessen the possibility of secondary trauma.

The Project will assist the Turkish judiciary in improving rights of family members through standard-settings and practical tools such as guidelines and handbooks to be applied in the family court procedures in a consistent manner throughout the country. The Project aims at delivering the most accessible justice in the shortest time to those who seek it. Most importantly, the protection and promotion of family members’ wellbeing will be a crucial consideration throughout its implementation.

Effective co-operation among the stakeholders involved in family law and family court procedures is expected to be established through the Project. Awareness raising activities will also be conducted.

Title of the Project: Improving the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members

Duration: 33 months (20 March 2021 – 19 December 2023)

Place/Country: Turkey

Budget: 2.223.000 €

Funding: This Project is co-financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

End Beneficiary: Justice Academy of Turkey

Target Groups: Ministry of Justice, judges, public prosecutors, candidate judges and prosecutors, experts, court staff, lawyers, academia, public/court users.

Expected Result 1:

• Conducting Baseline Study, Gap and Needs Analysis
• Improving Divorce Procedures and their Effective Application to Prevent Trauma
• Improving the Framework of the Alimony and Compensation Determination
• Improving the Application of the Principle of the Best Interest of the Child and Custody Arrangements
• Assessment of ADR Mechanisms in Family Law Procedures
• Improving the Applications of Law No.6284 and Case-flow and Prosecution Management in Domestic Violence
• Review of the Legal Framework
• Study Visits for the Analysis of Best Practices in the European Countries

Expected Result 2:

• Training Need Analysis (TNA)
• Design of Training Programme and Modules (working groups)
• Delivery of Training Programme
• Evaluation of the Training Programme

Expected Result 3:

• Increasing Legal Collaboration in Family Law Practices
• Establishment of a Collaboration Mechanism
• Organisation of Regular Collaboration Meetings
• Multi-sectoral institutional collaboration and pilot implementation

Expected Result 4:

• Information Needs Assessment
• Design and Implementation of Awareness Raising Activities for the Public
• Design and Implementation of Awareness Raising Activities for the Court Users

The following results are expected to be achieved through this Project:

1. Effectiveness and functioning of the family courts and office of public prosecutors are enhanced.
2. Capacities of judges, public prosecutors and experts are enhanced regarding key human rights and family law issues.
3. Co-operation mechanisms among stakeholders are improved.
4. Awareness of public regarding family court proceedings is increased.