A mapping study was conducted to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of UN and regional bodies, particularly those operating in Europe, in order to promote the integration of fundamental rights and gender equality approaches into disaster risk reduction processes.

Within this scope, the mapping study compiled the work of prominent organizations such as the Council of Europe, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, various UN entities, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, and the Sphere Project.

You can access the mapping study on our website.

The “Guidelines for Disaster Management Responsive to Fundamental Rights and Gender Equality” aim to support national disaster management stakeholders in integrating the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups into disaster risk reduction processes, and in developing their policies and practices from a human rights and gender equality perspective.

The use of these guidelines by national disaster management and risk reduction stakeholders will promote an ethical and fair disaster management approach that safeguards the right to life and human dignity of all individuals in society. In this way, the guide seeks to ensure that the fundamental needs of vulnerable groups are recognized, protected, and that equal and inclusive access is promoted throughout disaster management processes.

You can access the guide and checklists on our website.

The toolkit, designed as a reference resource for use in the preparation, monitoring, and evaluation phases of strategic management tools such as strategies, action plans, and roadmaps aimed at protecting fundamental rights and freedoms, has been developed drawing on the knowledge and expertise of international organizations such as the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations.

You can access the toolkit on our website.

The EU Fundamental Rights Handbook has been prepared for public officials, civil society representatives, and human rights defenders involved in the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of national policies and legislation in the field of fundamental rights during the EU harmonization process.

The Handbook provides an overview of the general context, principles, and main elements of the EU fundamental rights framework, institutional structures, and instruments, as well as relevant international legal regulations and policy documents in specific fundamental rights areas within the scope of the EU accession process.

You can access the Handbook on our website.

Comparative studies covering practices in different EU member states across 10 thematic areas identified within the scope of our project have been published on our website.

These comparative studies aim to present to readers the international standards, EU acquis, and the practices of selected member states in the relevant thematic areas. You can access the set of Comparative Studies on our website.

Factsheets prepared in 10 thematic areas identified within the scope of our project serve as a guide for readers on international agreements, binding and non-binding EU acquis. Click here to explore our set of factsheets.

As part of the project activities, 25 infographics presenting data on various fundamental rights issues have been prepared and are now available to our stakeholders.

Click here to view the informative graphics.

The compendium containing information and insights about the 2014-2020 IPA Fundamental Rights projects has been published. You can review our publication to learn about projects carried out in various areas, from freedom of assembly and women’s rights to children’s rights and individual applications to the Constitutional Court .

Programming efforts continue in the Fundamental Rights Sector to support Türkiye’s reform process. Within this scope, the “Sector Coordination Platform Advisory Board” meeting was held on August 8, 2024, to evaluate priority areas that can be addressed in the 2025-2027 programming period.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Family and Social Services, Ministry of Interior, Ombudsman Institution, and  Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, as well as representatives from international organizations active in the field of fundamental rights, including the Council of Europe Ankara Office, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, and UNDP.

The closing conference of the Project for Supporting Children’s Rights in Türkiye, conducted under the 2017 programming cycle, was held on October 31, 2024, in Ankara with the participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay.

Launched in November 2021, the project enhanced the coordination capacity of the beneficiary Ministry of Family and Social Services in the field of child protection, improved the standards and quality of child care services, and increased the capacity to identify children in vulnerable conditions and provide psychosocial support services. Additionally, the project’s co-beneficiary, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, received support to strengthen its capacity to combat child labor.

For detailed information on the project outputs, click here.

The Project on Implementing Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting in Türkiye, carried out under our 2016 programming cycle, has been completed.

Within the scope of the project, a total of 1,100 employees from various central institutions and 450 employees from municipalities have received training on gender-responsive planning and budgeting.

As a significant outcome of the project, the concept of gender-responsive budgeting has been integrated into the guidelines for general and local budget preparation as well as investment planning.

For detailed information about the project, click here.

The steering committee meeting of the Improving the Capacity of Lawyers and Bar Associations on the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of Children’s Rights Project, conducted under the 2020 programming cycle, was held on November 15, 2024.

The meeting, which reviewed the progress achieved in the project, was attended by the Presidents of the five pilot Bar Associations, as well as representatives from the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, UNICEF, the Ministry of Justice, and the Directorate for EU Affairs.

The steering committee meeting of the Project on Supporting the Effective Implementation of the Provisions of the Turkish Constitutional Court in the Field of Human Rights, carried out under the 2020 programming cycle, was held on November 19, 2024.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Constitutional Court, the Council of Europe Ankara Program Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate for EU Affairs, and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. During the meeting, the project’s five-month progress and developments related to individual applications were discussed.

As part of the Project on Supporting the Effective Implementation of the Provisions of the Turkish Constitutional Court in the Field of Human Rights,  the workshop titled “Children’s Access to Justice in the Light of Constitutional Court Decisions” was organized in cooperation with the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye and the Constitutional Court on December 9, 2024, in Ankara.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the Constitutional Court, the Council of Europe Ankara Program Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate for EU Affairs, TİHEK, and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, as well as representatives from other public institutions and academia.

During the workshop, the principle of the “best interests of the child” within the context of decisions by the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) was discussed, along with the challenges children face in accessing justice.

Cybersecurity aims to protect fundamental rights in the digital world. In this context, the EU continues to invest in cybersecurity and enhance its standards.

With the amendments to the Cybersecurity Act, the EU’s resilience against cyber threats is being strengthened, and new cooperation mechanisms are being introduced.

The “Cybersecurity Alert System,” “Cybersecurity Emergency Mechanism,” and “Incident Review Mechanisms” are being implemented to cover national and international cybersecurity centers across Europe.

Click here for details.

Based on interviews with 114,023 women who are EU citizens, the survey published in November shows that violence against women remains a serious concern in the EU.

The survey provides a comprehensive overview of the types and consequences of violence experienced by women and emphasizes the importance of data-driven measures in combating violence against women.

Click here to access the report.

The Directive encourages companies to act more diligently regarding human rights and environmental issues in their operations. It requires preventing potential adverse impacts on human rights and the environment, and if any negative effects occur, ensuring their remediation or at least minimizing them.

For companies, the Directive establishes a clear legal framework by introducing common and transparent rules, aiming to ensure a level playing field for fair competition. For individuals, it guarantees that company activities are conducted without harming human rights and the environment and provides access to complaint mechanisms or judicial remedies to hold companies accountable in case of adverse situations.

Click here to access the Directive.

Two new Directives have been adopted to facilitate travel for persons with disabilities within the EU.

The Directive (EU) 2024/2841 establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities grants holders of the European Disability Card access to special facilities or preferential treatments for people with disabilities during short-term stays in different member states. The European Parking Card ensures access to designated parking spaces and related parking privileges across the EU. These rights also apply to individuals accompanying persons with disabilities.

The Directive (EU) 2024/2842 extending Directive (EU) 2024/2841 to third-country nationals legally residing in a Member State guarantees that non-EU nationals with disabilities who are legally residing in an EU member state benefit equally from the same rights.

Click here for detailed information.