Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Representatives of national institutions, legal professionals and international partners gathered in Ankara for the Closing Conference of the European Union and Council of Europe joint action ‘Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye.’ As part of the Council of Europe’s Visibility Week, the event celebrated tangible progress in placing human rights and dignity at the heart of migration management.

Implemented under the programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, the action supported institutions, including the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Presidency of Migration Management, the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, and the Ombudsman Institution in building stronger safeguards for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.

Expert discussions focused on key human rights considerations and safeguards regarding immigration detention, and the specific needs of vulnerable  persons in migration, with a focus on children, women, and older persons. Experts from the Department for the Execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), the European Committee of Social Rights, as well as representatives from the Turkish Constitutional Court, local Bar Associations in Türkiye and international experts, emphasised the ways in which standards and promising practices could promote the development of more humane and effective responses in the field of migration.

As the action is concluded, the participants emphasised that its results have laid a solid foundation for continued work. These results will guide the future efforts to ensure that the migration management in Türkiye remains firmly rooted in human rights and human dignity.

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