Commitment, collaboration, and solidarity were at the forefront in Ankara as civil society organisations working in the field of women’s rights, bar associations and municipalities from across Türkiye, and international partners convened for the Final Review Meeting: Collective Impact for Women’s Access to Justice.
The gathering marked the conclusion of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Fostering Women’s Access to Justice in Türkiye”, implemented with the partnership of Union of Turkish Bar Associations. However, far from being just a closing event, the meeting was a celebration of achievements, lessons learned, and new commitments for the future.
Over the past two years, three civil society organisations (CSOs), Hayat Sende Youth Association, İMDAT, and ASAM, received grants to work hand in hand with bar associations, they raised awareness of 1398 women in vulnerable positions and increased their legal literacy through local engagement and social media campaigns, trained 214 legal professionals on gender-sensitive provision of legal services, and fostered cooperation with municipalities. Thus, together with the project activities, a total of 2,049 women have increased their awareness of their rights, and 1,845 legal professionals have been trained.
Building on this important work, the meeting provided a forum for exchange. Grantee CSOs and local bar associations shared successes and challenges, while international and national experts showcased effective partnership models. Their reflections painted a vivid picture of what happens when civil society, bar associations, and local actors such as municipalities join forces: Women not only increase their awareness about their rights but also feel empowered to claim them.
Participants left with recommendations to sustain collaboration between CSOs, bar associations, and municipalities and a renewed commitment to keeping women’s needs at the centre of efforts to strengthen access to justice.
The action “Fostering women’s access to justice in Türkiye” is part of the European Union and Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.
