The sixth Steering Committee Meeting of the European Union-Council of Europe Joint Project “Strengthening the Capacity of Bar Associations and Lawyers on European Human Rights Standards” took place in hybrid format on 19 October 2021. The representatives of the Council of Europe, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Central Finance and Contracts Unit attended the meeting together with participants representing the pilot bar associations, the Ombudsperson Institution, in addition to the Human Rights Joint Platform and Civil Society Development Centre. Thirty-two participants contributed to the Steering Committee Meeting by sharing their comments and suggestions.

Following the presentation of the project’s progress based on indicators required for better reporting of the project, participants were briefed about the activities implemented so far, including the cascade training sessions for lawyers, publications, HELP courses, placements, regulation of the Human Rights Centres of the Union of Turkish Bar Association and model directive for the Human Rights Centres of the pilot bar associations and the use of the web-based IT tool for better reporting. Exchanges were made on the planning of future activities projected for the remaining implementation period of the Project and recommendations of participants on the activities were discussed

The Joint Project on “Strengthening the Capacity of Bar Associations and Lawyers on European Human Rights Standards (SCoBAL)” is implemented by the Council of Europe, and co-funded by the European Union, the Republic of Turkey and the Council of Europe. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations is the end beneficiary of the Project. The Central Finance and Contracting Unit is the contracting authority.