In many ways and in essence, the project titled “A Bottom-up Approach for Supporting and Protecting Human Rights Actors in Turkey”, which is a strengthened continuation of the project titled “A Bottom-Up Approach for Protecting and Supporting Human Rights Actors in the Post-Pandemic Period” carried out between 1 March 2021 – 31 August 2024, has been structured to address the need to strengthen the human rights movement in Turkey. The project, which began on 1 January 2025, will run for 42 months.
The project, to be implemented by HRFT, aims to strengthen the human rights movement by adopting a grassroots approach in an environment where the exercise of rights is the exception and human rights violations are the rule. The ultimate goal of the project in this context is to contribute to a human rights struggle that can have a transformative and restorative impact in terms of developing and strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Turkey and ensuring respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Regional Solidarity and Cooperation Groups
As the first and most important step, Regional Solidarity and Cooperation Groups (6 regions) have been established, each consisting of at least 10 human rights defenders, based in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Diyarbakır, Van, and Hatay, and covering the surrounding provinces.
The importance of establishing Regional Solidarity and Cooperation Groups lies in bringing together individuals and organizations fighting locally to
- provide immediate support to human rights defenders under pressure,
- revitalizing the first points of contact for human rights defenders who are inaccessible due to the oppressive environment, ensuring access to accurate and up-to-date information on human rights violations occurring in remote areas and making these violations visible,
- consolidating the ground for struggle in the current oppressive environment, which is likely to intensify.
Human rights defenders and human rights organizations that will come together as Regional Solidarity and Cooperation Groups will, within the scope of this program:
- Monitor, identify, and report on the difficulties, pressures, and needs experienced by human rights defenders in the region where they operate,
- Implement solidarity practices to support human rights defenders facing risks,
- Ensure that human rights defender organizations and individuals in their regions can easily access the support, training, and activities outlined below within the framework of the program.
Activities to Protect Human Rights Defenders at Risk
Urgent Action Program: At least 20 urgent appeals will be prepared within the scope of the program. Violations and pressures faced by human rights defenders at risk and with less visibility will be shared with international mechanisms through urgent appeals via Regional Solidarity Groups, and action will be taken to protect human rights defenders.
Legal Support and Litigation Activities: The cases of 18 human rights defenders subjected to judicial harassment will be monitored, and free legal support will be provided. Human rights defenders considered eligible under the program will be identified by Regional Solidarity Groups, and their cases will be monitored by the Solidarity Groups.
Psychosocial Support Program: Support will be provided to 50 human rights defenders who have experienced trauma under this program, with priority given to human rights defenders supported under the legal support program. Support will include weekly individual and/or group therapy sessions for approximately 12 months.
Financial Support for Human Rights Defenders at Risk: Financial support will be provided to at least 104 human rights defenders who are at risk due to their advocacy activities. The support, which will be provided for a maximum of 1 year, will cover: (i) legal expenses related to judicial and administrative harassment targeting the human rights defender, (ii) reasonable allowances in case of job loss, (iii) social assistance and relocation assistance, (iii) family support, (iv) medical and psychological rehabilitation expenses, and (v) expenses necessary to continue advocacy work.
Training Programs
Three core training programs will be organized to enhance the knowledge and skills of human rights defenders and human rights organizations:
Trainings on monitoring and documenting human rights violations: These trainings will strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders to monitor and document in accordance with international standards. The training will be delivered to 120 human rights defenders in 6 regions through two-day sessions, each led by 4 trainers for 20 participants.
Trainings on Secondary Traumatization and Burn-out: Training sessions focused on preventing secondary trauma and burnout will be organized for a total of 60 human rights defenders, the vast majority of whom are from Regional Solidarity Groups.
Digital and physical security trainings: These trainings will provide basic digital skills to 40 human rights defenders, primarily IT personnel in civil society organizations.
Supervision Program
Under this program, at least 210 human rights defenders and practitioners working directly with individuals affected by human rights violations will receive professional support to enhance their competencies and well-being.
The program’s subcategories consist of group supervisions for social workers (6 groups, 60 people), psychologists (6 groups, 60 people), clinicians working with children (2 groups, 20 people), and technical supervision (6 groups, 60 people) as well as individual supervisions (10 people, 48 sessions).
Professional Development Program for Human Rights Defenders
Within the scope of the program, human rights defenders will be supported to participate in conferences, workshops, trainings, and online programs related to human rights in Turkey and abroad, with a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and digital technologies. Ten human rights defenders will benefit from the program. 7 of the supported events will be held abroad, and 3 will be held domestically.
Language Training Support Program for Human Rights Defenders
In order to facilitate human rights defenders’ access to international mechanisms and enable them to carry out their advocacy activities in the field more effectively, 10 human rights defenders will be supported to participate in English, Kurdish, Arabic, and Farsi language courses.
Financial Support Program for Human Rights Organizations
Under this program, at least 28 civil society organizations engaged in rights-based activities will receive support to increase their operational capacity and ensure their sustainability in line with their strategic priorities.
Within the scope of this program, a separate program will be implemented for civil society organizations conducting human rights-based activities in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, and Maraş, which were among the provinces most affected by the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, and where the effects of the earthquake are still ongoing.
Turkey Human Rights Network
Based on organic relationships that will develop within the Regional Solidarity Groups, which “open the capillaries” of the human rights struggle, a Turkey Human Rights Network (TİHA) will be established, which in no way aims to be an alternative to existing networks and similar formations, but rather aims to strengthen these formations. Thus, the aim is to establish a structure that links advocacy struggles carried out in different areas, by different actors, and in different regions, making local issues visible on a national scale and turning them into a common cause; and to create a common ground with the power to set the political agenda by referring to human rights, while also eliminating the risk of weakening while localizing.
Activities Aimed at Strengthening HRFT
Within the scope of this work, there are also activities aimed at strengthening HRFT institutionally in its fight against torture and other ill-treatment.
Strengthening the Van Treatment and Rehabilitation Center: The center, which will continue to serve as a well-equipped treatment center for torture survivors in Van and surrounding provinces, will include a full-time physician and volunteers in its team.
Strengthening coordination among treatment teams at HRFT centers: The capacity of HRFT treatment and rehabilitation teams, consisting of physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and medical secretaries, will be developed through needs assessments, trainings, and regular meetings. To deepen expertise in the treatment, diagnosis, and documentation of torture, a total of 12 training modules, three of which will be face-to-face, will be developed and implemented, specifically targeting physicians. Each training session, conducted by two trainers, will be attended by 13 treatment personnel and will last one full day.
Activities to Raise Public Awareness on Human Rights
Public activities: Online activities on human rights issues, including panels, workshops, and podcasts, will be organized, as well as public events in six cities, primarily in the central cities of the Regional Solidarity Groups.
Activities for the public: These activities aim to highlight the contributions of human rights defenders to human rights, correct social misconceptions resulting from disinformation, and accurately inform the public about administrative and judicial processes targeting human rights defenders.
These activities will be designed according to the needs and regional characteristics identified by the Regional Solidarity Groups. With these activities, we aim to generate and disseminate our own discourse on the agenda in the face of the criminalization of rights defenders.
Activities Aimed at Mobilizing New Actors
HRFT Istanbul Office Information and Experience Sharing Program: The Information and Experience Sharing Program, organized by the HRFT Istanbul Office since 2015 with the aim of bringing young human rights defenders together with experts, will be strengthened and continued within the scope of this activity.
Human Rights Summer School: Two summer school programs will be organized with 40 participants to strengthen the presence of young people in the field of human rights and encourage their participation.
International Advocacy
Special programs and regular advocacy activities will be conducted with United Nations, Council of Europe, and European Union (EU) human rights bodies and mechanisms in order to provide international human rights mechanisms with regular and up-to-date information through at least three briefing notes; to bring human rights violations in Turkey—particularly those targeting human rights defenders—to the international agenda; to call on the Turkish authorities to take action and encourage compliance with international agreements; and to strengthen international solidarity.
Research Study
A researcher appointed for this study on the right to redress will monitor and document judicial proceedings related to gross/serious human rights violations that occurred during the armed conflicts and curfews that resumed in southeastern Turkey in July 2015.