The second term of the Minority Rights Academy, organized by the Hrant Dink Foundation since 2024, took place between May 23 and 26, 2025, at the Anarad Hığutyun Building in Istanbul.
The Minority Rights Academy brings together civil society representatives, legal professionals, academics, and members of minority foundations. The curriculum covers topics such as the definition and transformation of the concept of minorities, international and national legal frameworks on minority rights, the political history of minorities in Turkey, challenges encountered in practice regarding minority rights, comparative studies from different countries, and advocacy tools. Each year, 20 participants are accepted into the program.
This year, the program once again received high interest, with around 170 applicants. Ultimately, 20 participants were selected from various cities and professional backgrounds across Turkey to take part in an intensive four-day training.
During the in-person part of the program, 12 experts from different countries and fields delivered seminars. The program was conducted in Turkish, with simultaneous translation provided for sessions held in English.
On the first day of the Academy, Turgut Tarhanlı discussed human rights law and its implications for minority rights in Turkey. Samim Akgönül followed with an exploration of current debates on the concept of minorities and assessed minority rights within the framework of international law.
The second day began with Elçin Aktoprak’s presentation on the Treaty of Lausanne and minority rights in Turkey. Throughout the day, Suavi Aydın and Elçin Aktoprak held two sessions focusing on examples and challenges related to the implementation of minority rights in Turkey. In the evening, a screening of three short documentaries by director Nejla Osseiran — Priapos’un Geleceği, Zeytini Öldürmesinler ve Sulukule: Kimin İçin Dönüşüm? — was followed by a discussion with the director.
On the third day, İpek İlkkaracan and Gülru Göker led a workshop on discrimination and gender relations. This was followed by presentations from Ali Dayıoğlu on minority communities in the Balkans and Seda Altuğ on those in the Middle East. The day concluded with a project development workshop led by Sanem Güner and an introduction to the Minority Rights Academy Grant Program by the HDV team.
The final day was dedicated to advocacy on an international level. Claude Cahn from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) addressed advocacy and the prohibition of discrimination in the context of minorities. Later, a conversation was held with UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Prof. Dr. Nicolas Levrat, focusing on current minority issues and the UN’s efforts in this field. The program concluded with a presentation by Neil Clarke from Minority Rights Group International on advocacy opportunities.
The Academy program will continue with online seminars.
This project is financed by the European Union.
