As of November 1^st, RRT’s new Field Office in the Northwestern border town of Edirne has become operational. The Field Office is intended to help strengthen RRT’s legal assistance services for immigration detainees held in the two large scale removal centers in Edirne and neighboring Kirklareli provinces.

As of October 1^st, RRT’s new Field Office in Izmir has become operational. The Field Office is intended to help strengthen RRT’s legal assistance services for immigration detainees held in large scale removal centers in Izmir and neighboring Aydın as well as other locations in Turkey’s Aegean coastal region.

On 1-5 October, RRT held a study visit to United States, organized in collaboration with American partner organization Refugee Solidarity Network (RSN). The study visit focused on the US experience in pro bono partnerships between law firms and NGOs for the delivery of legal representation services to asylum seekers and migrants.

On 9-14 September RRT held a study visit to Germany to learn about the procedures and institutional arrangements in place for the identification, protection and care of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

On 28-29 July, RRT carried out a two-day refugee law training for lawyers and legal practitioners from bar associations in 12 different provinces around Turkey and 2 NGOs. In addition to RRT trainers the training also featured an expert from the European Court of Human Rights.

On 21-22 July, RRT carried out a two-day certificate training for lawyers in the city of Van in Eastern Turkey, in collaboration with the provincial bar association. Van remains an important point of arrival for refugees from Afghanistan and Iran.

RRT launches a new publication: “In their Own Voices: Unaccompanied Minors in Turkey”, in Turkish and English. The publication presents testimonies of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Turkey reflecting their experiences, challenges and aspirations.

On the ocassion of World Refugee Day and the launch of the “In their Own Voices” publication, RRT in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland organized a seminar addressed towards the diplomatic community in Ankara.

RRT begins cooperation with Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) Community Center in Ankara to conduct weekly legal empowerment sessions for refugees and asylum seekers benefitting from the Center’s psychosocial services. To kick off this joint effort an introductory training was delivered by RRT to TRC Community Center staff on June 1st.

On 12-13 May 2018, RRT in partnership with ICJ, ECRE and Mülteci-Der, organized a 2-day training for lawyers and NGO legal practitioners from around Turkey on  international and European individual complaint mechanisms relevant for the legal protection of refugees and migrants.