The fourth training of the project "Strengthening the Respect for Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Turkey", conducted by Istanbul Bilgi University Human Rights Law Research Center and supported by Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, held in 10-12 February 2007 for NGO representatives from Medditteranean and Southeast Anatolia regions.

The participants were White Walking Stick Association for the Blind (Antalya), Association for Special Education, Counselling, Aid and Solidarity of Mentally Retarded Persons (based in Antalya), Association of  Persons with Physical Disabilities Batman Office, Protection and Education Association for Autistic Children of Mersin, Association for Persons with Disabilities of Turkey Mardin Office, Association for Persons with Disabilities of Turkey Tarsus Office, Turkish Spastic Children Association Isparta Office, Association for the Blind of SAP (Southeast Anatolia Project) (based in Adiyaman), Persons with Physical Disabilities Association Sanliurfa Office, Persons with Physical Disabilities Association Head Office, Association for Persons with Disabilities of Turkey Adana Office, Associaton for Protection and Solidarity of Persons with Physical Disabilities Osmaniye Office, Association for Persons with Disabilities of Turkey Antalya Office, Alti Nokta Association of Blind People Antalya Office, Association for Persons with Disabilities of Turkey Gaziantep Office, International Child Centre in Ankara, Mersin Association for Persons with Hearing- Impairments, The Society of Spinal Cord Paralytics Sanlıurfa Office, Antalya Association for Persons with Hearing- Impairments, Adana Association for Persons with Hearing- Impairments, Association for Education and Protection of the Blind of Turkey Kahramanmaras Office, Burdur Association for Protection and Sustainment of Persons with Disabilities, Association for Education and Protection of the Blind of Turkey Isparta Office.

The training lasted three days. The agenda of the training was designed together with RWI. Presentations regarding the standards set out in United Nations, Council of Europe and the European Union are preceded by an introduction to international human rights law. The afternoon session of the second day was devoted to the discussion of Turkish legislation on the major problematic areas. The 3rd day was devoted to group work on case studies where the participants put the knowledge they gained through the training into practice.

The local experts were selected by Bilgi University and the international expert was selected by RWI. The local experts were Dr. İdil Işıl Gül (Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Law),  Assoc. Prof. Gülsevil Alpagut (Istanbul University Faculty of Law), Ms. Güler Polat (Head of the Disability Law Commission at Istanbul Bar), Mr. Halil Kçseler and Mr. Turhan İçli. The international expert was Mr. Stefan Trömel.

The compilation was also available in braille for blind participants.  

Please contact Project Coordinator Asst. Prof. Dr. İdil Işıl Gül for more information at idil.gul@bilgi.edu.tr.