Leyla Kayacik was born in Ankara to parents who were passionate about travelling and the French language. Leyla first studied English literature and civilization in Nice, then law at the University of Strasbourg while working at the European Commission of Human Rights.
She then worked for the European Social Charter and moved to Ankara to open the Council of Europe Programme Office where she contributed notably to the improvement of prison conditions in Türkiye in line with the recommendation of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
During her 10 years in the Private Office of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General, she played a key role in establishing a result-oriented dialogue with countries experiencing difficulties in implementing the European Convention on Human Rights. She ended her career by strongly advocating for the protection of migrants and refugees in line with the Council of Europe standards. Her professionalism, commitment and devotion made her an asset for the Council of Europe.
Leyla Kayacik, former Special Representative of the Secretary General for migration and refugees, expresses her pride in having contributed to the many conventions of the Council of Europe which improved the lives of people across Europe.
The project “75 women in 75 years of Council of Europe history” is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the Council of Europe with the Council of Europe and the Permanent Representations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
