1. Human Rights: National Objectives and Developments

Since the early 2000s, comprehensive reforms have been implemented in Türkiye to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, as well as to ensure full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, with the aim of protecting and promoting human rights.

Through numerous legislative and constitutional amendments since 2001, our national legislation has been enhanced with the purpose of strengthening the democratic rights and fundamental freedoms of our citizens, by taking into account the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the conventions of the Council of Europe (CoE), the main United Nations (UN) human rights conventions to which Türkiye is a party, as well as the norms of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union (EU) acquis communautaire.

According to the amendment of Article 90 of the Constitution, the provisions of international human rights conventions shall prevail in case of a conflict with national legislation regarding the same matter.

The right to individual application to the Constitutional Court, introduced on 23 September 2012, was established to better protect individual rights and freedoms and to ensure more effective implementation of the ECHR provisions.

The Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (TİHEK) and the Ombudsman Institution have been contributing to the enhancement of democracy, human rights and the rule of law since 2012. TİHEK was accredited with B status by the Accreditation Sub-Committee of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) on 10 October 2022.

Reform efforts have mainly focused on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial system, as well as on progress in the field of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The “Judicial Reform Strategy” document for 2019-2023 was developed upon extensive consultations, including with the CoE and the EU, taking into account the norms and criteria of the CoE, UN, OSCE, and EU.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice published the “Human Rights Action Plan” for the period 2021-2023, which was developed in consultation with local stakeholders, as well as the CoE.

In recent years, several judicial reform packages have been adopted to implement the objectives outlined in both documents. Significant progress has been achieved toward these goals, and efforts in this regard are ongoing.

The new “Judicial Reform Strategy”, covering the period 2025-2029, was announced to the public on 23 January 2025. The work on the new Human Rights Action Plan is ongoing under the coordination of the Ministry of Justice.

2. Cooperation with International Human Rights Mechanisms

Türkiye’s constructive cooperation with the Council of Europe (CoE), the United Nations (UN), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the field of human rights continues without interruption and with determination.

A) Council of Europe (CoE)

Having gained a new momentum at the end of the 1990s and reached advanced levels in the early 2000s, the ongoing reform process in Türkiye has resulted in the intensification of our relations with the CoE. Significant progress, including major constitutional and legislative reforms in our country, the abolition of the death penalty, the fight against torture, prison reform, freedom of thought and expression, freedom of association and assembly, religious freedom, the functioning of the judiciary, civil-military relations, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the fight against corruption, has strengthened Türkiye’s standing as a strong and efficient member within the CoE.

Türkiye assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE from November 2010 to May 2011. Former Foreign Minister, H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was elected as the President of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) from 2010 to 2012, making him the first Turkish parliamentarian to hold this position in history. During its Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, Türkiye made significant contributions to enhancing the role, visibility and relevance of the CoE.

Türkiye is currently party to 120 of the 227 CoE conventions and has signed 31. Among the 46 CoE member states, Türkiye ranks fifteenth in terms of the number of conventions and protocols it is a party to, ahead of many EU member countries.

Apart from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Türkiye closely cooperates with other human rights monitoring and protection mechanisms of the CoE, including in the areas of combating racism and discrimination, preventing torture and ill-treatment, combating corruption, money laundering and countering terrorism. In this regard, Türkiye maintains close cooperation with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), European Committee Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) as well as the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, while taking into consideration the recommendations and the reports published by these mechanisms.

Furthermore, through projects carried out in cooperation with the CoE, a wide range of information, awareness-raising and training activities are carried out for public officials, civil society organisations, students and the general public on relevant issues, including high judicial bodies.

Relations between Türkiye and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

An important aspect of our country’s cooperation with the Council of Europe (CoE) is related to ECtHR. Türkiye recognized the right to individual petition under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in 1987, which came into force in 1953, and accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the ECtHR in 1990.

The ECHR and the case law of the ECtHR, which are among our main sources of law, constitute an important reference point in our country's reform efforts in the field of human rights.

B) UN Human Rights Mechanisms

Adopted in 1948, the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” regarded as the “Constitution of Human Rights,” recognizes the fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to every individual. It proclaims that all human beings are equal before the law and shall not be subjected to torture, ill-treatment or degrading punishment. To this day, the Declaration continues to guide international efforts to protect and promote human rights. December 10, the date of its adoption in 1948, is celebrated annually as “Human Rights Day.”

By adopting an encompassing approach to human rights and prioritizing respect for human dignity in its foreign policy, Türkiye attaches particular importance to the UN’s human rights acquis and its cooperation with the UN in this field. Turkish representatives actively participate in the Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions, held three times a year in Geneva, to discuss human rights issues.

Türkiye’s fourth review was conducted on May 6 2025 in Geneva under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism within the UN Human Rights Council on which the human rights situation in all UN member states are reviewed every five years.

Türkiye is a party to 16 of the major UN human rights conventions and protocols thereto. Compliance by states parties with these conventions is monitored by relevant committees (treaty-based bodies).

The interactive dialogue meeting on Türkiye's fifth periodic report on the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was held in Geneva on 17-18 July 2024, within the scope of the 80th session of the Committee Against Torture, the monitoring body of the Convention.

The interactive dialogue meeting on Türkiye's second periodic report on the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was held in Geneva on 23-24 October 2024, within the scope of the 142nd session of the Human Rights Committee, the monitoring body of the Convention.

In addition, non-treaty mechanisms, known as the special procedures of the UN HRC, monitor states' adherence to international human rights norms and provide recommendations (special rapporteurs, special representatives, working groups). Since 2001, Türkiye has been among the countries that have issued a standing invitation to these mechanisms, allowing Special Rapporteurs and Representatives to visit within this framework.

Furthermore, in line with efforts to transform Istanbul into a UN hub and to promote women's rights, the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia has been operating in Istanbul since 2014. In addition, the "Host Country Agreement" for the establishment of the UN Women Türkiye Office is in the process of domestic legal ratification.

C) The Human Dimension of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), although primarily a regional security forum, also supports the efforts of its participating states to promote democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Along with Permanent Council and Ministerial Council meetings, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw, as well as three Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings at the discretion of the OSCE Chairmanship are organized every year within the OSCE.

The OSCE has three institutions specialized in the promotion of human rights: The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Representative on Freedom of the Media.

As part of the OSCE’s human dimension activities, combating xenophobia, hatred against Islam, intolerance and discrimination are among the main priorities of our country.

Accordingly, Türkiye supports the special representatives appointed by successive OSCE chairmanships since 2004 to address religious discrimination (Special Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, Special Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions, and Special Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism).

The mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, which inter alia is responsible for monitoring closely the intolerance and discrimination matters against Muslims in the OSCE region, coordinating the efforts initiated in those areas, collaborating with the OSCE participating states as well as the OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE institutions, related international organizations and NGOs, and prepare reports on its visits to OSCE countries is carried out by Ambassador Evren Dağdelen Akgün since 25 January 2024.