The legal desk efforts to guide individual victims of human rights violations in Turkey before the UN bodies are supported by the officers of the lobbying desk.

IAHRAG does believe that, in addition to supporting victims, it is crucial to inform relevant stakeholders of the constant deterioration of the human rights and rule of law situation in Turkey.

Our team does systematically engage with relevant stakeholders for each regular session of the Human Rights Council.

The Human Rights Council is the main body within the UN system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights. Three times a year, Members of the Council as well as UN Members States, Independent Experts of the Council (Special Procedures) have the opportunity to discuss human rights issues worldwide, including human rights situations that require the Council’s attention. (see our latest information note on the 48th session of the Human Rights Council).

At the occasion of the latest 48^th session of the Council, EU States declared that

We remain concerned about the continued deterioration of respect for the rule of law and human rights, and the independence of the judiciary in Turkey. As an EU candidate country and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, Turkey is expected to apply the highest human rights and democratic standards and practices. We reiterate the call on Turkey to protect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, including property rights of persons belonging to minorities and minorities’ legal entities, as well as universal access to cultural life in accordance with Turkey’s international commitments. In this context, we urge Turkey to implement all judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, which are legally binding and to immediately release all arbitrarily detained persons. The targeting of political parties, people participating in trade union activities, independent media, human rights defenders, lawyers and judges, academics, LGBTI persons, members of parliament and democratically elected mayors represent major setbacks for human rights and run counter to Turkey’s obligations to respect democracy, the rule of law and women’s rights. We call on Turkey to fully uphold women’s rights. Human rights are non-negotiable and they continue to be an integral part of EU-Turkey relations.

IAHRAG keeps informing all relevant stakeholders, States, civil society organizations and international organizations, of its concerns as to the non-respect of international human rights law in Turkey through the diffusion of open-letters and open-call.

See for instance the open letter as to the Interpol’s General Assembly in Istanbul (November 2021) and the open call to denounce the resurgence of widespread torture in Turkey (February 2022).