The Second Steering Committee Meeting of the EU-CoE Joint Project on “Improving the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members”, implemented by the Council of Europe and the Justice Academy of Turkey, was held on 5 April 2022 in Ankara in hybrid format.
Participants of the meeting comprised representatives of project partners, namely the Justice Academy of Turkey, Ministry of Justice General Directorate of EU and Foreign Relations, Delegation of the European Union to Turkey and Council of Europe. Project stakeholders also participated in the meeting as observers comprising of representatives of the Court of Cassation, Council of Judges and Prosecutors, Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Legislation, Ministry of Justice Department of Judicial Support and Victim Services, Ministry of Justice Department of Training, Ministry of Justice Department of Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for EU Affairs, Ministry of Family and Social Services and Union of Turkish Bar Associations.
President of Justice Academy of Turkey Mr Muhittin Özdemir, Head of Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara Mr Cristian Urse, Programme Manager of Delegation of the EU to Turkey Ms Gamze Kösekahya Pazarcı and Ministry of Justice General Directorate of EU and Foreign Affairs Deputy Head of Department, Ms Sevil Bostancı all emphasised the successful progress of the Project in their opening statements. The Council of Europe Project team informed the participants about the activities conducted and progress achieved since the first Steering Committee Meeting, as well as planned activities.
The next Project Steering Committee Meeting is planned to be held on 27 September 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. 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.
