Türkiye’s Member of Parliament, Ceylan Akça Cupolo, introduced a proposal for a law on the recognition and protection of Human Rights Defenders in the Turkish parliament.

The proposed law aims to regulate the principles governing the recognition and protection of HRDs in accordance with existing international standards. Its content is very much in line with the principles set out in the UN Declaration on HRDs.

The draft law also provides for the creation of a Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders within the Ministry of Justice, which would be in charge of coordinating the protection of HRDs and act as a mechanism for the protection of HRDs. Its tasks include proposing and implementing preventive and protective measures for HRDs, as well as receiving and considering applications for such measures.

The draft law is now pending before Parliament. Find the proposed law here in English. (ISHR)