On 9-10 May 2019, in Ankara, under the Joint Project “Strengthening the Capacity of Bar Associations and Lawyers on European Human Rights Standards”, a working group meeting was held to review the Draft Action Plan for Human Rights Centres (HRCs). The participants included lawyers from the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA) and the pilot bars, in addition to international and national consultants.
The discussions focused on short, medium and long term objectives and specific activities to be implemented in order to improve the capacities of HRCs which were defined in the draft action plan. Following the exchange of views on its vision and mission statements and strategic objectives, the participants reviewed the targeted action points of the draft plan in five areas:
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Planning and budget
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Organisation and structure
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Coordination and external relations
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Data collection and monitoring
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Training
The participants found the draft plan sufficiently comprehensive and responsive to the actual needs of the HRCs. They made concrete recommendations to further improve the document which will guide the UTBA and bar associations in their capacity building activities for the HRCs.
