A two-day workshop brought together 113 representatives of key public institutions to strengthen the effective implementation and dissemination of the Turkish Constitutional Court (TCC) judgments, contributing to enhanced human rights protection and the consistent application of the case law on fundamental rights across Türkiye.
The programme, opened with remarks by the Chief Public Prosecutor of Mersin and the Head of Department of the Justice Academy, targeted stakeholders involved in the implementation of TCC case law, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsperson Institution, and the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye. The speakers underlined the crucial role of these activities in enhancing human rights protection and ensuring the effective functioning of the judiciary in Türkiye.
The first day began with an online panel on the right to a reasoned judgment, facilitated by senior experts from the Turkish Constitutional Court, academia, and the European Court of Human Rights. This session highlighted the importance of reasoned judgments as a cornerstone of fair trial guarantees and legal certainty.
The programme continued with three parallel sessions: two dedicated to the TCC case law on the right to a fair trial and one addressing the right to property. Discussions were guided by the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the key issues exchanged included the binding nature and enforcement of the judgments of the Turkish Constitutional Court, the presumption of innocence, equality of arms, adversarial proceedings, and the right to a reasoned judgment. In the session dedicated to the right to property, the participants explored its scope as a fundamental human right, its impact in concrete disputes, and the most frequent violations identified in judicial practice in the country.
Over the two days, participants took part in interactive sessions, with practical exercises and case studies, advancing their legal reasoning skills and fostering the exchange of professional experiences. The workshop contributed to a deeper understanding of human rights standards and protection of fundamental rights in Türkiye, while providing a platform for discussing core themes, fostering collaboration among institutions, and highlighting the essential role of public bodies in promoting legal awareness and the rule of law.
The Joint Project on "Supporting the Effective Implementation of Turkish Constitutional Court Judgments in the Field of Fundamental Rights" is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe. The Turkish Constitutional Court is the end beneficiary of the Project.
