Within the scope of the Minority Rights Academy project carried out by the Hrant Dink Foundation with the support of the European Union, a “Roundtable on Migrant Rights and Advocacy” was held. The workshop took place in a hybrid format on September 17, 2025, at the Anarad Hığutyun Building, with 15 participants, including academics, lawyers, and representatives of civil society organizations working in the field of migration. The meeting aimed to create a platform for dialogue and cooperation among individuals and institutions active in the field, and to collectively address current challenges and possible solutions.
The roundtable was moderated by Prof. Dr. Didem Danış from the Department of Sociology at Galatasaray University and the Migration Research Association (GAR). In her opening remarks, Danış outlined developments in the field of migration in Turkey since the 2000s and discussed how rights advocacy has evolved, thus framing the discussions. Following her introduction, the first session, titled “Field Experiences,” featured experts from different backgrounds who shared insights from their academic research and practical work. They discussed the structural and everyday challenges faced by migrants and refugees, and reflected on how these challenges have evolved, highlighting transformations in the field.
In the second session, “Challenges and Opportunities in Advocacy,” participants shared the multiple layers of obstacles they encounter in the field of migrant and refugee rights. Topics such as shifting national and international political contexts, resource constraints, and bureaucratic barriers were discussed, along with the strategies developed to overcome them. Despite the challenges, participants also reflected on positive developments that have emerged in recent years. The discussions presented opportunities for collaboration, provided inspiring examples, and identified potential strategies to strengthen impact in the field.
The final session, “Partnerships for the Future,” focused on effective advocacy strategies for human rights and equality in the face of shrinking civic space and rising xenophobia. Discussions emphasized the importance of building alliances at both national and international levels, utilizing diverse advocacy tools (media, law, politics, culture) more effectively, and fostering solidarity among different actors.
Additionally, Helena Maleno Garzón, a human rights defender from Spain and the 2025 International Hrant Dink Award laureate, joined the meeting to share her experiences. Drawing on her long-standing struggle and work for the rights of migrants, Garzón offered examples of how experiences from different geographies can inspire the discussions in Turkey.
For more detailed information about Helena Maleno Garzón, please click here.
Participants of the round table meeting
- Aslı İkizoğlu Erensü - Sabancı University
- Ayşegül Yalçın Eriş - SGDD-ASAM - https://sgdd.org.tr/en/
- Ayşen Ezgi Üstübici Önay - Koç University and MiReKoç - https://mirekoc.ku.edu.tr/
- Deniz Şenol Sert - Özyeğin University and Migration Research Association (GAR) - https://gocarastirmalaridernegi.org/en/
- Didem Danış - Galatasaray University and Migration Research Association (GAR) - https://gocarastirmalaridernegi.org/en/
- Dilek İçten - Media and Migration Association - https://www.medyavegoc.org/en
- Eda Bekçi - Association of Solidarity with Refugees - https://multeci.org.tr/en/
- Emma Sinclair-Webb - Human Rights Watch - https://www.hrw.org/
- Helena Maleno Garzón - Caminando Fronteras - https://caminandofronteras.org/en/
- Lülüfer Körükmez - Ege University
- Mine Eder - Boğaziçi University
- Pınar Uyan Semerci- Bilgi University
- Sema Genel Karaosmanoğlu- Support to Life Association - https://www.supporttolife.org/
- Sibel Karadağ - Kadir Has University and Migration Research Association (GAR) - https://gocarastirmalaridernegi.org/en/
- Yıldız Önen - Migrant and Refugee Solidarity Network
This project is financed by the European Union.
