The overall objective of the project is to promote the elimination of discrimination and violence against women in Turkey. The specific objective of the project is to contribute to the realization of human rights standards on the human rights of women by the judges, prosecutors, lawyers and the women’s NGOs. The project encompasses activities that aim at reinforcing the capacities of the aforementioned key actors to effectively implement international and European standards on the protection of the human rights of women. Accordingly, the members of the judiciary and the women’s NGOs are the main target group of the project. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The project is implemented between 1 November 2005-1 December 2010. All together 295 participants joined the seminars organized within the framework of the project. 

Following activities and outputs are accomplished in the scope of the project:

Women’s Human Rights: International Law and Practice (published in Turkish with title "Kadın Hakları: Uluslararası Hukuk ve Uygulama") 
The book aims at providing the international legal framework that can be used in the analysis of the violations of the human rights of women. International legal texts on the human rights of women have been translated into Turkish and compiled under different themes. The book also contains translation of selected case-law on women’s rights. The 685-page book was published in 2.000 copies and distributed (1.000 copies in July 2010 and 1.000 copies in December 2010). The full text of the book is also accessible on the website of the Center. 

   ♦   To reach the book "Women’s Human Rights: International Law and Practice" please click. 

Seminars for Lawyers
4 seminars were organized for lawyers. 85 lawyers from 61 bar associations participated in these seminars. 

   ♦   1st Seminar for Lawyers, 14-18 May 2006

   ♦   2nd Seminar for Lawyers, 30 September-4 October 2006

   ♦   3rd Seminar for Lawyers, 23-27 November 2006

   ♦   4th Seminar for Lawyers, 3-7 March 2007

Seminars for Judges and Prosecutors
3 seminars were organized for judges and prosecutors. 30 Family Court judges, 12 Criminal Court judges and 37 prosecutors participated in these seminars. 

   ♦   1st Seminar for the Family Court Judges and Prosecutors, 23-26 October 2007

   ♦   2nd Seminar for the Family Court Judges and Prosecutors, 5-8 February 2008

   ♦   Seminar for the Criminal Court Judges and Prosecutors, 3-6 June 2008

Seminar and Study Visit to Sweden for the Judges of the Court of Cassation 
The then president of the Court of Cassation Hasan Gerçeker and 24 members from the chambers of the Court of Cassation who deal with cases on violations of women’s human rights participated in a seminar on non-discrimination, equality and women’s human rights. The seminar was followed by a study visit to different institutions in Sweden. 

   ♦   Seminar and Study Visit to Sweden for the Members of the Court of Cassation, 15-23 November 2008

Seminar for the Women’s NGOs 
44 representatives from different women’s NGOs participated in 2 seminars. 

   ♦   1st Seminar for the Women’s NGOs, 21-23 September 2007 

   ♦   2nd Seminar for the Women’s NGOs, 15-16 November 2008

Roundtables on Violence against Women 
Two roundtables were held on violence against women. Representatives from the relevant public institutions and NGOs, judges, prosecutors and lawyers came together in these roundtables. 

   ♦   1st Roundtable on Violence against Women, 4 December 2007

   ♦   2nd Roundtable on Violence against Women, 24 September 2008

Seminar for the Members of the Association for the Center of Legal Aid to Women and Follow-up Seminars for Lawyers (2009) 
The original phase of the project finished at the end of 2008 and the project has been extended in 2009 by organizing one seminar for 25 lawyer members of the Association for the Center of Legal Aid to Women (KAHDEM) and two follow-up seminars for the lawyers who participated in the former seminars within the project. 20 lawyers participated in the first follow-up seminar and 17 lawyers participated in the second follow-up seminar. 

   ♦   Seminar for the Members of the Association for the Center of Legal Aid to Women, 23-24 May 2009

   ♦   1st Follow up Seminar for Lawyers, 3-4 July 2009

   ♦   2nd Follow up Seminar for Lawyers, 5-6 July 2009 

Who and What is Protected by the Law on the Protection of the Family?: Narratives of Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers (published in Turkish with title "Ailenin Korunmasına Dair Kanun Kimi ve Neyi Koruyor?: Hakim, Savcı ve Avukat Anlatıları") 
The research on the Law No. 4320 on the Protection of the Family (that was enacted in 1998 and annulled in 2012, replaced by Law No. 6284) was conducted in 2010. The research aimed at understanding the perceptions, interpretations and practice of the practitioners (judges, prosecutors and lawyers) about the Law on the Protection of the Family. Findings of the research are published in July 2011 in a book titled "Who and What is Protected by the Law on the Protection of the Family?: Narratives of Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers". The full text of the book is also accessible on the website of the Center. Findings of the research was made public in a press conference and panel discussion with the participation of the then Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Şahin on 17 November 2011. 

   ♦   To reach the book "Who and What is Protected by the Law on the Protection of the Family?: Narratives of Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers" please click.

   ♦   Press Conference and Panel: "What and Who is Protected by the Law on the Protection of the Family? Narratives of the Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers", 17 November 2011