Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Migrants and Victims of Human Trafficking in Turkey

Back Launching of the Online Course on “Asylum and European Convention on Human Rights” for Lawyers of the Edirne Bar Association

The European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on “Asylum and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)” was launched online on 7 May in cooperation with the Edirne Bar Association of Turkey, under the Action on “Strengthening the human rights protection of migrants and victims of human trafficking in Turkey”. The online event brought together 48 lawyers with the representatives of Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, the Ministry of Justice of Turkey, the trainers of the course and the Action team.

In their opening speeches, both the president of the Edirne Bar Association, Mr Alper PINAR and the Head of Ankara Programme Office of the Council of Europe, Mr Cristian URSE highlighted the importance of the course for lawyers, having in mind the high number of migrants in Turkey.

Representative of the Action, Mr. Çağlar KIRAN, gave a general overview of the courses offered by the HELP online platform and provided in the framework of the Action. It was also announced that an additional five virtual training sessions are to be organised in cooperation with the Edirne Bar Association for lawyers, namely “Alternatives to Immigration Detention”, “Refugee and Migrant Children”, “Child Friendly Justice”, “CPT Standards” and “Prohibition of Ill-Treatment” in addition to the “Asylum and ECHR” Course.

Ms Gizem ÜLİÇ KARAAĞAÇLI, former lawyer at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, attended the event as a guest speaker and presented the legal framework and relevant case-law of the Court.

The trainer of the HELP course, Dr Meltem İNELİ CİĞER presented the HELP platform, content, demonstrated how to access and effectively use the platform and how to interact with the trainer and other participants in the virtual training lesson. She also informed the participants that they would receive a HELP certificate upon successful completion.

The HELP Course on “Asylum and ECHR” covers the key provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights and the related case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, which are of particular relevance for asylum-seekers and refugees and is expected to improve the knowledge of the legal professionals regarding Turkish law and practice as well as on the case-law of the European Court in relation to protection of asylum-seekers.

The course was organised within the framework of the Action “Strengthening the human rights protection of migrants and victims of human trafficking in Turkey”, part of the European Union/Council of Europe collaboration “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.

Ankara 7 May 2021

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ABOUT THE ACTION

The action on “Strengthening the human rights protection of migrants and victims of human trafficking in Turkey” is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”

What is the goal?

► To enhance protection of human rights in the context of migration and to strengthen the application of European standards in this field;

► To improve the prevention and fight against trafficking in human beings through the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in Turkey.

Who benefits from the Action?

Ministry of Interior, including Directorate General of the Migration Management, Directorate General of Security, General Command of Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Command;
Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services;
Ministry of Justice;
Justice Academy of Turkey;
Union of Turkish Bar Associations;
Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey;
Judges, prosecutors, lawyers and law enforcement officers;
Civil society organisations;
Migrants, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking and smuggling and persons in vulnerable situations, in particular, women and children.

How will the Action work?

► Through a multisectoral partnership approach ensuring dialogue between different stakeholders;

► Capacity building activities will include interdisciplinary working groups, case studies, round table meetings, tailor-made workshops and HELP trainings with relevant stakeholders and experts, peer-to-peer exchanges, and mini grants.

Expected results:

► A comprehensive and integrated institutional approach addressing trafficking in human beings in Turkey, in line with recommendations of the Group of Experts on Action against Human Trafficking (GRETA);

► Progress in the implementation of human trafficking prevention and victim protection strategies, in particular in the context of migration;

► Enhanced understanding of relevant stakeholders on human rights standards in the context of migration, particularly concerning women and vulnerable groups;

► A strengthened human-rights’ based approach to smuggling of migrants.