A sound problem analysis lies at the heart of good policy-making, including the development of strategies and action plans for human rights. To support Turkey in the implementation of its forthcoming National Action Plan on Human Rights, the Council of Europe has been piloting a needs assessment of the judiciary in the fields of the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of expression.

Following field visits to Adana and Sakarya, the first cycle of expert consultations concluded with a series meetings with representatives of the Constitutional Court, the Council of State, and the Court of Cassation, which were held on 13, 14, and 23 October, respectively. Expert reports will analyse both legislative issues and challenges arising from practice in order to issue concrete recommendations to support the Ministry of Justice in the implementation of the forthcoming National Action Plan on Human Rights.

These activities were organised within the action “Supporting the implementation and reporting on the Action Plan on Human Rights in Turkey”, which is implemented by the Council of Europe under the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.