The European Union and Council of Europe joint project  “Fostering civil society's support for women's access to justice in Türkiye” seeks  to strengthen participatory democracy by empowering civil society organisations to promote human rights and improve women’s access to justice and legal remedies. The project supports key actors, including civil society, local authorities, lawyers, and bar associations in strengthening their capacities to promote access to justice to women facing intersectional vulnerabilities.
About the project

The main objective of the project is to enhance human rights protection and access to justice for women in Türkiye. To achieve this, the project focuses on the following  objectives:

  • Strengthening the capacities of civil society organisations, authorities, lawyers and other professionals, on human rights and access to justice for women, in line with international and European standards.
  • Improving local mechanisms and co-operation between civil society organisations, authorities, lawyers, and other professionals working on women’s access to justice.
  • Raising awareness among women in vulnerable situations about human rights and access to justice.
  • Providing legal aid services to access justice and remedies to women in vulnerable situations.

The project builds on the results of the action “Fostering women’s access to justice in Türkiye (phase I and II)” funded by the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” action.

Who benefits from the project
  
  • Main partner: Union of Turkish Bar Associations
  • Target groups: Bar Associations; Civil society organisations active in promoting women's rights and gender equality; Lawyers; Municipalities
  • End beneficiaries:  Women and girls in vulnerable situations, victims of violence against women and domestic violence
Contacts

The project is implemented by

 the Capacity Building and Co-operation Projects Unit at the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Division

 Arezo BANAFSHEH, Project Manager

together with

 the Council of Europe Office in Ankara

 Bilge FILIZ, Senior Project Officer

 Nehir SARIGÖL, Project Assistant

News
Empowering civil society to improve access to justice in migration, environment, and women’s rights in Türkiye

Empowering civil society to improve access to justice in migration, environment, and women’s rights in Türkiye

Lawyers take a step forward for women’s rights in Türkiye

Lawyers take a step forward for women’s rights in Türkiye

What do we expect to achieve?
  • Improved capacities of civil society organisations, bar associations, lawyers and other professionals working on women’s access to justice to effectively apply European and international standards and to facilitate access to justice and effective remedies.
  • Enhanced dialogue and coordination among civil society organisations, municipalities, bar associations, lawyers and other professionals working on women’s access to justice, leading to more consistent and effective responses.
  • Improved access to information, legal guidance, effective remedies, and awareness of rights for women including those in vulnerable situations through grant support to civil society organisations,
  • Improved access to justice to women facing intersectional vulnerabilities, by providing a comprehensive grant scheme to legal aid clinics, enabling them to provide legal aid and counselling in the area of women’s access to justice.
Duration

  22 December 2025 – 21 December 2028

Budget

   The total budget of the project is 1 482 000 Euros.