The third thematic round-table took place on 29 January 2019 in Ankara. The round table meeting gathered 40 participants, including judges and prosecutors from the first instance courts, the Regional Court of Appeals, the Court of Cassation, the Constitutional Court, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Council of Judges and Prosecutors.

The participants analysed shortcomings about adequacy of the substantial criminal law to the international standards with regard to deliberate inhuman and degrading treatment. The meeting also encompasses discussion on legal classification and sentencing for ill-treatment, leniency and clemency measures. The input collected from participants through small groups’ discussions will contribute to the development of the needs assessment and recommendations report as proposal for improvement of deterrent effects of the domestic substantial criminal legislation and judicial practices among stakeholders.

Following the round table, the consultation meeting was organised on 30 January 2019 in Ankara with civil society organizations working in the field of human rights. The aim of the meeting was to discuss about the most pressing issues regarding domestic legislation and judicial practices related to investigation of ill-treatment allegations. The input collected through the exchange and discussion will serve to complement the needs assessment and recommendations report.

The Project “Improving the Effectiveness of Investigation of Allegations of Ill-Treatment and Combatting Impunity in Turkey” is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Human Rights Trust Fund and implemented by the Council of Europe in partnership with the Human Rights Department within the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey.