The first two of the focus group meetings with target groups took place online on 25 February 2022 within the scope of the EU-CoE Joint Project on “Increasing the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members”, implemented by the Council of Europe and the Turkish Justice Academy. These focus group meetings are the last steps undertaken for the work conducted on the Training Needs Analysis.
Following the desk study and analysis carried out by the Council of Europe’s International Project Consultant Ms Marina Naumovska, surveys were developed and filled in online with a high participation by the target groups between 7-18 February, which aimed at assessing the training needs of the target groups.
In order to provide a meaningful analysis of the results obtained from the target group surveys, the two separate focus group meetings were held with candidate judges and prosecutors and experts (psychologists, pedagogues and social workers working for the family courts). Focus group meetings with family court judges and prosecutors of the violence bureaus and other ancillary staff (registers, clerks, bailiffs and other staff) will be held online by 4 March.
The Training Needs Analysis, which aims to identify the topics to be covered in the training programs designed specifically for family courts and prosecutors of the violence bureaus, and the most effective methodologies and tools for the delivery of the training topics, is expected to be completed within March 2022.
The “Improving the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members” Project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe and Justice Academy of Turkey. The Project aims to ensure rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey as fully in line with international and European standards and to improve the effectiveness of family courts in protecting the rights of women, children, and other family members.
