On 16 December 2018, RRT in partnership with ICJ, ECRE and Mülteci-Der, organized a nation-wide workshop on the use and potentials of the “strategic litigation” approach to strengthen the legal protection of refugees and migrants. In addition to participants representing bar associations and NGOs from around Turkey, contributions were made by experienced European legal experts and litigators. The workshop aimed to promote a structured discussion among key national stakeholder representatives on the value of a strategic approach in litigating cases on behalf of refugee and migrant clients with a view to tackling gaps and structural problems in Turkey’s current legislative and implementation framework governing migration and asylum. The “strategic litigation” approach is a relatively new idea among the legal professional

We have updated our legal information booklet for persons in immigration detention in Turkey and groups at risk of immigration detention. The resource, first launched in September 2016, is made available in 7 languages. The comprehensive booklet aims to provide accurate and up to date legal information in accessible language, in a questions and answers format, covering the full range of procedures, safeguards and obligations provided by the provisions of Turkey’s Law on Foreigners and International Protection governing detention and expulsion of foreigners. The booklets are made available, in print and digital formats, in Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Urdu and Russian. They are intended to inform both persons and groups at risk of immigration detention as well as lawyers

Back in February 2016, RRT had published a Legal Opinion Paper on difficulties encountered by foreign nationals subject to deportation and immigration detention procedures in notarizing a power of attorney to authorize legal representatives of their choice. Our new Legal Opinion Paper on this lingering problem takes stock of changes that came about over the past 2 years and a number of positive developments in the case law of competent domestic courts. Our new Legal Opinion Paper « Lagging Behind the Caselaw : Ongoing Challenges in Granting Power of Attorney » , in addition to taking stock of some recent changes, tackles the continuing problems from the perspective of consequences for the persons concerned in regards to access to rights and key procedural

On 3 December, RRT organized a semimar in Istanbul on international legal standards that should inform rescue at sea. The seminar was attended by lawyers and NGO practitioners as well as law students from Istanbul Bilgi University and Koç University. Legal questions around obligations and responsibility about rescue at sea are particularly relevant in connection with irregular crossings from points of departure along the Turkish Aegean coast line to Greek islands. Dolunay Özbek of Istanbul Bilgi University Law School contribute to the seminar with a presentation on states’ obligation to protect refugees in the context of operations aiming to secure maritime borders. The seminar was organized in the framework of a project implemented with the backing of Heinrich Böll Foundation

On 25-29 November RRT held a study visit to Italy to learn about the procedures and institutional arrangements in place for the identification, protection and care of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. The study visit was carried out in the framework of a project currently implemented by RRT with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland, aiming to strengthen awareness and sensitivity for unaccompanied minors in Turkey and contribute to national policy making in this field. RRT is conducting a series of study visits to selected EU member states to examine aspects of the national protection systems in place in these countries relevant for the protection of unaccompanied minors with a view to drawing policy ideas and recommendations to inform Turkey’s

RRT, in collaboration with Istanbul Bilgi University, organized a panel discussion in Istanbul on “Asylum-seeker Youth: Legal and Educational Perspectives”. The event was attended by representatives of relevant Government agencies and NGOs as well as students. The event was organized by RRT in partnership with Istanbul Bilgi University Center for Sociological and Educational Studies (SEÇBİR) in the framework of an RRT project supported by the Embassy of Switzerland. The project aims to strengthen awareness and sensitivity for unaccompanied minors in Turkey and contribute to national policy making in this field. The panel discussion at Istanbul Bilgi University featured presentations by RRT and SEÇBİR experts on relevant aspects of the domestic law framework and education policy in Turkey informing the future

On 14-16 November RRT held a study visit to the UK to learn about the procedures and institutional arrangements in place for the identification, protection and care of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. The study visit was carried out in the framework of a project currently implemented by RRT with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland, aiming to strengthen awareness and sensitivity for unaccompanied minors in Turkey and contribute to national policy making in this field. RRT is conducting a series of study visits to selected EU member states to examine aspects of the national protection systems in place in these countries relevant for the protection of unaccompanied minors with a view to drawing policy ideas and recommendations to inform

As of November 1st, 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. The Field Office will serve as an operational outpost to help extend RRT’s legal assistance services catering to persons reaching out to RRT’s Detention Helpdesk from the two large-scale removal centers in Edirne by the Greece land border and in Pehlivankoy district of neighboring Kirklareli province by the Bulgaria border. These two large-scale facilities, each holding up to 600 immigration detainees, are currently used to detain and process persons apprehended by Turkish authorities

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. During the study visit, the RRT Delegation had meetings with two legal aid organizations that deliver assistance to asylum seekers, the Legal Aid Society (LAS) and Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) as well as various law firms that extend pro bono services in the state of New York. RSN and RRT plan to explore possibilities for mobilizing similar pro bono partnerships in Turkey between NGOs and law firms.

As of October 1st, 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. The Field Office will serve as an operational outpost primarily to help extend RRT’s legal assistance services catering to persons reaching out to RRT’s Detention Helpdesk from large-scale removal centers in Izmir and neighboring Aydın province as well as other immigration detention facilities in Western Turkey. The Field Office is envisioned to eventually also take on appeal cases from Izmir in connection with negative status decisions arising from both the international

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. In the framework of a project currently implemented by RRT with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland, RRT is conducting a series of study visits to selected EU member states to examine aspects of the national protection systems in place in these countries relevant for the protection of unaccompanied minors with a view to drawing policy ideas and recommendations to inform Turkey’s efforts on this issue. The project aims to strengthen awareness and sensitivity for unaccompanied minors in Turkey and contribute to national policy making in this field.

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. Day 1 of the training covered the basic criteria and procedural tenets of the international protection procedure for non-Syrian asylum seekers and the temporary protection regime in place for refugees from Syria. Day 2 of the training focused on rules and criteria governing detention and expulsion decisions, including a session on applicable European Court of Human Rights case law. In addition to theoretical presentations, the training also offered clinical discussions regarding effective use of