Challenges to the international legal order, geopolitical conditions, climate change, income inequality and technology have brought the international human rights system to an inflection point. Across the world, human rights advocates in civil society, politics, public service, law, business, arts, and science are calling for a renewal of the global human rights agenda. The Pasaj Forum gathered representatives of the human rights ecosystem in Türkiye to discuss these challenges and what they mean for the future of human rights work. Together, we have explored the possibilities for renewal on the anniversary of the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Speaker
Jean Barbé | Head of Operational Section Civil Society, Fundamental Rights, Judiciary and Home Affairs, EU Delegation to Türkiye
@ Rumeli Han Passage19.30Speakers
Dilek Ertükel | Team Leader, European Union Sivil Düşün Programme
Alessandro Angius | Programme Manager, Civil Society, Fundamental Rights, Judiciary and Home Affairs, EU Delegation to Türkiye
Forum Moderator
Prof Nezih Orhon | Faculty of Communications, Anadolu University
@THE MARMARA TAKSIM - TAKSIM BALLROOM10.00Leading international thinkers and policy influencers will share insights on this moment in history and possibilities for renewing the global human rights agenda.
Speakers
David Griffiths | Fellow, author, and strategic consultant with the International Law Programme at Chatham House, International Crises Group, Human Rights Watch, and TrustWorks Global. Former Director of the office of the General Secretary at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
Dr. Vandana Shiva | Physicist, environmental thinker and activist, founder of the Navdanya Science, Technology and Ecology Research Institute of India, board member at the World Future Council, author of Violence of the Green Revolution
Prof. Cristina Vanberghen | Academician at the European University Institute, senior expert at the European Commission on digitalization, AI, consumer policy, and cybersecurity, former Secretary of State for Justice for Romania
Thomas Lahnthaler | International humanitarian with expertise in disruption management, resilience, leadership, and human-centric design; founding member of the Octopus Movement, lecturer at Oslo Nye Høyskole, author of Navigating Beyond Crises
@THE MARMARA TAKSIM - TAKSIM BALLROOM10.20Audience members will exchange perspectives and pose questions about the future of the global human rights agenda in an open mic discussion with David Griffiths, Vandana Shiva, Cristina Vanberghen and Thomas Lahnthaler.
Moderator
Dilan Kaya Taşdelen | Urban planner and advocate for cultural preservation, author of Destruction in the Tigris Valley and Hevsel Garden
@THE MARMARA TAKSIM - TAKSIM BALLROOM12.15In breakout sessions, participants will discuss the impacts of global changes on human rights in Türkiye and explore strategies for leveraging opportunities and mitigating risks. Chatham House Rules will be applied in these sessions.
Discussion Room I
Human Rights Agenda: Türkiye and the International Legal Order
How will challenges to the international order play out in Türkiye? How will priorities, strategies and tactics for human rights advocacy be impacted?
Speakers
Ruhat Sena Akşener | Türkiye Director of Amnesty International
Soli Özel | International affairs expert, academician, and columnist
Moderator
Nevzat Taşçı | Campaign Director of Arayüz Campaign
Discussion Room II
Human Rights Agenda: Türkiye and Climate Change
To what extent are concerns about climate change, income inequality and a just transition relevant to conditions in Türkiye? Have these issues entered the public’s awareness and legislative/political agenda of the country? What does this suggest for human rights advocacy?
Speakers
Defne Koryürek | Former Slow Food International council member, ecology activist and columnist
Ümit Şahin | Coordinator for Climate Change Research, Istanbul Policy Centre at Sabanci University
Moderator
Kemal Vural Tarlan | Documentary photographer, researcher, and coordinator of Kırkayak Kültür
Discussion Room III
The Human Rights Agenda: Türkiye and Technology
How is technology impacting lives and the rights of people in Türkiye? What is the status of the regulatory framework? What do AI and other technology advancements protend? Is technology on the agenda of human rights advocates?
Speakers
Prof Yaman Akdeniz | Faculty of Law, Bilgi University, founder of CyberRights.org
Handan Uslu | Founder of Gözlemevi, former strategist at Google Trust and Safety
Moderator
Hazal Kartalkanat I Programme Manager, Imece
Discussion Room IV
The Human Rights Agenda: Türkiye and Shrinking Space
What breakthroughs are possible to open space for advocacy and freedom of expression? How can we challenge ourselves to rethink strategies and tactics? What are the options today and for the future?
Speakers
Berk Butan | Community Leader and Senior Campaign Strategist, Portfolio Manager at Greenpeace International
Meltem Aslan | Founding member and co-director of Hafıza Merkezi
Moderator
Umut Derin Eroğlan | Documentary film maker and coordinator of Muamma LGBTI+ Association
Discussion Room V
The Human Rights Agenda: Türkiye and Business
International agreements and the public policy initiatives of regional, national, and local governments play a crucial role in ensuring that the private sector contributes to advancing human rights and sustainability goals. For example, the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) calls for strengthened corporate diligence measures to identify, end, prevent, mitigate, and account for adverse human rights and environmental impacts. How can policy initiatives of this kind strengthen the private sector’s role in the human rights and climate agenda?
Speakers
Bürge Akbulut | Child Rights and Labour Expert, Founder of Humanist Büro, Author and Editor of Human Rights Due Diligence for Small and Medium Enterprises
Gamze Gökçen Karasu Pilevne | General Counsel and Environment, Social and Corporate Governance Coordinator for Mercedes-Benz Türk
Moderator
Çiğdem Çimrin | Founder and Executive Director, Business and Human Rights Association
@ The Marmara taksim - Meeting Room14.30For those interested in what’s next, join diverse leading human rights advocates to discuss integrating Turkiye’s human rights experience and insights into the international discussion on renewing the global human rights agenda. Ensure your views are included in a collection of essays SD will produce with these advocates for publication.
Speakers
Fulden Ergen | Digital communications strategist and co-host of Üzerine Bir Şeyler Podcast
Gaye Tuğrulöz | Chair of the Board, Social Climate Association
Gülin Çavuş | Journalist, Yapay Gündem founder, and TEYİT co-founder
Veysel Ok | Lawyer and Director, Media and Law Studies Association
Özlem Altıparmak | Lawyer, Ankara University Climate Law Coordinator, HUDOTO Foundation Founder Director
Moderator
Dilek Ertükel | Team leader, European Union Sivil Düşün Programme
@THE MARMARA TAKSIM - TAKSIM BALLROOM16.30Sivil Düşün is a European Union Program. This website was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union within the framework of European Union Sivil Düşün Programme. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the consortium led by WEglobal Danışmanlık A.Ş. and in no way be interpreted as the opinion of the European Union.
