Through knowledge exchange and the organisation of seminars, workshops and meetings, we create collaborative spaces where human rights lawyers and civil society groups can come together to learn, reflect and develop effective legal strategies. Much of this work takes place through co-learning on cases, where joint drafting, shared discussion and collective problem-solving naturally emerge.
DIALOGUE & EXCHANGE
Human Rights Litigation in Turkey: Challenges, Prospects and Strategies
The Turkey Litigation Support Project (TLSP) organised a roundtable on the use of strategic litigation in the context of the human rights crisis in Turkey. The meeting took place at the Law Faculty of the University of Middlesex in London, and the TLSP team was joined by key lawyers, NGO representatives, academics and activists engaged in or supporting human rights litigation in Turkey. During the meeting, the participants shared their experiences and discussed numerous issues related to the challenges of human rights litigation in Turkey and beyond to reflect on how human rights litigators might think strategically going forward.
WEBINAR ON THE IMAMOĞLU CASE
THE İMAMOĞLU CASE – JUDICIAL POWER AS A TOOL OF POLITICAL CONTROL
23 March 2026
PANEL 1- International Human Rights Perspective * Ayşe Bingöl Demir, TLSP * Emma Sinclair-Webb, Human Right Watch * Milena Buyum, Amnesty International Moderator: Ş. Ceren Uysal, PEN Norway PANEL 2- Parliament Under Pressure * Meral Danış Beştaş, MP, DEM Party * Sezgin Tanrıkulu, MP, CHP Moderator: Can Dündar, journalist, Honorary Member of PEN Norway
"ALLIES FOR DEMOCRACY?"
TLSP team with partners during joint roundtable "Allies for Democracy? Civil Society and Opposition in EU-Türkiye Relations",
June 2025, Brussels/Belgium
TLSP co-organised and participated in the hybrid ‘EU roundtable – Allies for Democracy? Civil Society and Opposition in EU–Türkiye Relations’ with Connecting Europe and the European Policy Center. The event brought together opposition politicians, civil society actors, EU policymakers, and experts to discuss the state of democracy and civic space in Türkiye. Ahead of the roundtable, TLSP co-authored a joint briefing paper with Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists for EU institutions and Member States, building on the conclusions of its earlier briefing to the Council of Europe on Turkey’s ongoing defiance of European Court of Human Rights judgments, erosion of judicial independence, and broader challenge to EU founding values and rule of law standards.
TLSP, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists carried out a joint advocacy mission to the Council of Europe in collaboration with the European Implementation Network. We met with the Secretary General and other key institutional representatives to discuss key European Court of Human Rights judgments unimplemented by Turkey and other pressing human rights and rule of law related issues.
OSMAN KAVALA TRIAL EXAMINED AT AN INTERNATIONAL BOOK TALK VIA ZOOM
April 28, 2020
On 20 April 2020, Research Institute on Turkey (RIT), Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project (TLSP) and Osman Kavala Solidarity Team organized an international panel focusing on a compilation, a book previously produced by 300 friends, organizations and initiatives for Osman Kavala’s 62nd birthday. The panel covered the solidarity campaign #FreeOsmanKavala and the story behind the production of the book, the state of his trial, how it affects civil society in Turkey as well as concerns amid COVID-19 as he is within this higher risk age group and certain basic rights such as the right to nutrition and the right to health are not precisely looked after. The panel was hosted via Zoom with the participation of more than 150 attendees from 76 global human rights organizations, institutes, NGOs, cultural organizations and universities.
THE TURKEY LITIGATION SUPPORT PROJECT HOSTS A STRATEGIC DISCUSSION MEETING IN LONDON
October 11, 2019
On 3-4th October, the Turkey Litigation Support Project (TLSP) organised a roundtable on the use of strategic litigation in the context of the human rights crisis in Turkey. The meeting took place at the Law Faculty of the University of Middlesex in London, and the TLSP team was joined by key lawyers, NGO representatives, academics and activists engaged in or supporting human rights litigation in Turkey. During the meeting, the participants shared their experiences and discussed numerous issues related to the challenges of human rights litigation in Turkey and beyond to reflect on how human rights litigators might think strategically going forward.
TURKEY: A PARADIGM SHIFT
May 10, 2019
On May 15th at Columbia SIPA, TLSP will co-host a panel bringing together distinguished speakers to discuss the paradigm shift fuelled by the latest local elections in Turkey. On May 6th, the Turkish Supreme Election Council’s decision on the re-run of local elections in Istanbul shook the country to its core. Panellists will discuss what the future holds for citizens politically and socially, where this shift will take the country next, and importantly what this means for the rule of law and freedom of expression. In light of Professor Fusun Ustel’s imprisonment on Tuesday May 7th 2019, panellists will expand on academic freedom. Speakers: Chad Kautzer, Chair - Professor of Philosophy, Lehigh University Sarah Clarke, Article 19, Head of Europe and Central Asia Ayse Bingol Demir, Lawyer, Turkey Litigation Support Project Cem Ozatalay, University in Exile Visiting Research Scholar at The New School Giran Ozcan, HDP US Representative Aykan Erdemir, Former CHP MP, Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Sezgin Tanrikulu, CHP Member of Parliament (via Skye) Co-Hosts: Research Institute on Turkey Article 19 Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Columbia Institute for the Study of Human Rights Turkey Litigation Support Project Location: Columbia SIPA 420 W 118th Street, New York, NY Room #707 For more information: https://m.facebook.com/events/350034255717809/
