20 lawyers from the İstanbul Bar Association completed a two-day training on “Detention in the context of migration”, organised by the joint European Union/Council of Europe action on “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”, in co-operation with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations.

The training was delivered by experienced lawyers/mentors who were previously trained under the action and aimed to enhance the knowledge of lawyers on, inter alia, international and European human rights standards related to the principle of non-refoulement, the right to liberty and security including lawfulness of detention, alternatives to immigration detention, and the protection of persons in a vulnerable situation. The case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and the one of the Turkish Constitutional Court was also part of the training. The participants had an active role during the training by discussing the domestic legislation and practice and sharing their experience in the field.

The participants valued the importance of such capacity-building activities as well as the interactive format and extended their appreciation for the support provided in the framework of the action.

Similar trainings will be organised with other local Bar Associations across Türkiye with a view to strengthening the knowledge and capacities of lawyers on the applicable human rights standards on immigration detention and equip them with the necessary skills to conduct in-house trainings at their workplace.

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