A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Türkiye from 24 to 31 May 2024 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. During the visit, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on effective equality and access to rights; hate speech and hate-motivated violence; and integration and inclusion.

In Ankara, the delegation held meetings with representatives of the national government, the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, the Turkish Ombudsman Institution, representatives of civil society organisations and groups of concern to ECRI. In Istanbul, the delegation also met with representatives of the local authorities working for the integration and inclusion of beneficiaries of international protection and other migrants. The ECRI delegation also visited the office of an NGO providing direct assistance to migrants and refugees, including women and children from various backgrounds.

Following this visit, ECRI will adopt a report in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to address racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed within two years after the publication of the report as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.

In its previous report on Türkiye, among other recommendations, ECRI recommended the Turkish authorities to complete the development of a strategy and action plan for the integration and inclusion of non-nationals and to mobilise all possible resources to ensure that these policies are implemented (§71). ECRI also recommended that officials and political leaders at all levels in Türkiye refrain from using hate speech (§38).

For more information on previous ECRI reports on Türkiye, please visit ECRI’s country monitoring page.