An international conference on “Human rights and migration in the context of natural disasters and emergency situations” was held in Ankara on 11-12 June 2024. The two-day conference was organised within the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe joint action  “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”, in co-operation with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and with the support of the Council of Europe Project on “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova”.

The conference, which brought together more than 130 participants, including lawyers from different local Bar Associations across Türkiye, representatives from key state institutions, the European Union, Council of Europe, UNHCR, and UNICEF as well as representatives of the People’s Advocate Office of the Republic of Moldova and civil society organisations, aimed to identify challenges related to migration due to natural disasters following also the devastating earthquake of February 2023 in Türkiye and Syria and explore the applicable international standards, national legislation and good practices in the field.

Through enriching presentations and interactive dialogue, participants had the opportunity to exchange experience, draw inspiration and improve their knowledge to help migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the context of disasters and emergency situations. The various topics discussed during the conference included access to justice and other remedies, access to identity and registration, the specific needs of children and other persons in a vulnerable situation, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement and access to services for persons displaced due to natural disasters. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the work of the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement on natural disasters and migration was also the focus on the event.

The joint European Union/Council of Europe action “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”  is part of the joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.