2 0 0 9 2 0 1 3

THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE O P E N S O C I E T Y F O U N D A T I O N T U R K E Y

 2009-2013
The Frst Fve Years Of The Open Socety Foundaton Turkey
2009-2013
The Frst Fve Years Of The Open Socety Foundaton Turkey

Publshed By
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION TURKEY

Concept And Edtors

GKE TYLOLU,
ZLEM YALINKAYA,
PELN BARDAKI,
ELF AL,
AL BORATAV

Texts and Translaton 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 3

AYE GNAYSU

Graphc Desgn T H E F I R S T F I V E Y E A R S O F T H E
BURCU KAYALAR O P E N S O C I E T Y F O U N D A T I O N T U R K E Y

Color Separaton, Prntng And Bndng

A4 OFSET Matbaaclk San. ve Tic. Ltd. ti.
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Tel: 0212 281 64 48

C OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION TURKEY

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bebek 34342 stanbul
Tel: 0212 287 99 86
www.aciktoplumvakfi.org.tr

All rghts reserved. No text and no vsual

materal can be reproduced, publshed or
dstrbuted by any means wthout pror
permsson except for short excerpts
to be used for promotonal purposes
by gvng reference.
 c o n t e n t s
THE EUROPEAN UNION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON TURKEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
WHY OPEN SOCIETY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 THE IMPACT OF EU ON 100 AREAS OF OUR DAILY LIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
ANOTHER FIVE YEARS WORK FOR THE OPEN SOCIETY IDEAL / SHAK ALATON . . . . . . . . 8 THE COST OF NO EU-TURKEY BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
OPEN REFLECTIONS ON THE FIRST FIVE YEARS / GKE TYLOU. . . . . . . . . . 10 REFLECTIONS OF EU-TURKEY RELATIONS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. . . . . . . . . . 71
REFORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 MEETING SERIES ON THE CYPRUS CONFLICT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
NEVER AGAIN! COMING TO TERMS WITH PAST AND APOLOGY. . . . . . . . . . . 20 EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
ANATOLIAN CONSCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SUPPORTING ROMA CHILDREN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. . . . . . . . . . . . 74
THE TURKISH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STUDIES FOUNDATION: TESEV . . . . . . . . 28 BLG UNIVERSITY: PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . 76
SOCIAL POLICY FORUM: RESEARCH ON INEQUALITIES IN TURKEY . . . . . . . . . . 32 PROJECTS FOR IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE DISABLED . . . . . . . . . 76
MEDITERRANEAN CHILDREN ART ATELIER AND ETUDE CENTRE. . . . . . . . . . 34 HELSINKI CITIZENS ASSEMBLY: TEACHERS FOR DEMOCRATIZATION AND PEACE BUILDING. . 77
PROJECTS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE PENAL SYSTEM ASSOCIATION. . . . . . . . 38 BLG UNIVERSITY: INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA STUDIES CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. . . . . . 77
YOUNG PEOPLE OF TURKEY SPEAK OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 DEBATE TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
THE UNSPOKEN TRUTH: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 NESN MATHEMATICS VILLAGE - 2010-2011 SUMMER SEASON. . . . . . . . . . . 78
HRANT DNK FOUNDATIONS PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SALT: INTERPRETATION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FOUNDATION: HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK PROGRAM . . . . 50 FROM THE WHITE SCREEN TO THE BLACKBOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
SULUKULE YOUTH ORCHESTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
MEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
1964 EXILE OF ISTANBUL GREEKS: 20 KILOS 20 DOLLARS RESEARCH AND EXHIBITION . . . . . 56
4

5
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF PRESS:
TURKEY ROMA RIGHTS FORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS AND CARNEGIE EUROPE REPORTS . . . . . . . . 80
KUTEPE CHILDREN ETUDE CENTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 HATE CRIMES IN NATIONAL PRESS: 10 YEARS, 10 EXAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . 84
SURVEY ON THE SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARATERISTICS OF AFRO-TURKISH WOMEN. . . . 58 GENDER STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
THE PANEL DISCUSSION AND FORUM: ALEVIS AND SUNNIS CONFRONT THE 28 FEBRUARY KAMER: TO WORK FOR WOMEN, WITH WOMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
POST-MODERN MILITARY COUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
11. INTERNATIONAL FILMMOR WOMENS FILM FESTIVAL ON WHEELS . . . . . . . . . 94
SMAL BEK FOUNDATION: DYARBAKIR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT . . . . . . . . . 59
DITAM: SURVEY ON SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF EARLY MARRIAGES . . . . . . . . . . . 98
HUMAN RIGHTS IN MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SEMIHA ES- WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM . . . . . . . . 98
BOAZ UNIVERSITY: THE SURVEY ON THE PROCESSES OF OTHERING IN TURKEY . . . . 59
BAK: REVEALING THE CITY THROUGH MEMORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 LGBT STUDIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
WORK FOR DIALOGUE BY TESEV AND GPOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 LAMBDA EXTENDS ITS SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH LGBT CHILDREN ACROSS TURKEY. . . . 102

REMEMBERING WITH PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS WITH YOUTH . . . . 61 PINK LIFE ADVOCACY AND STRATEGIC LITIGATION PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . 104

BOAZ UNIVERSITY: RESEARCHES ON CONSERVATISM AND MIDDLE CLASSES IN TURKEY. . 61 STRENGTHENING MECHANISMS OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR LGBT PEOPLE . . . . . . . . . 104

KO UNIVERSITY: TURKISH ELECTION STUDIES 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 KAOS GL: DISSEMINATION IN TURKEY OF STANDARDS ON COMBATING DISCRIMINATION
ON GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. . . . . . . . . . . . 104
SOCIAL POLICY FORUM: FREE LUNCH AT SCHOOL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
SPOD: BRINGING LGBT RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE INTO LOCAL POLITICS IN TURKEY . . . . . 105
TOHAV: AN ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY FOR PREVENTING TORTURE . . . . . . . . . . 62
CIVIL SOCIETY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
DTAM: THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER TONGUE IN HEALTH CARE SERVICES . . . . . . . 62
TSEV: CIVIL SOCIETY MONITORING REPORT 2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
IMPR: PERCEPTION OF KURDISH QUESTION IN TURKEY BY KURDISH GROUPS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 BLG UNIVERSITY: GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING PUBLIC EXPENDITURES. . . . . . . 108
WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I GOT TO DO WITH OTHERS RIGHTS? . . . . . . . . . . 63 SATURDOX DOCUMENTARY MEETINGS AT DEPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
A LONELY AND WORRIED COUNTRY: TURKEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 BLACK RIBBON: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARTS PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . 109

WHY
OPEN SOCIETY?
Open? The opposte of closed, n other words nclusve. Inhalng
and exhalng, that s to say, permeable nwards and outwards,
offerng fludty n both ways. Embracng but not confnng. That
whch s not complete and fnshed, but a state of beng on the
way, contnung to develop and enrchng ts beng. Movng and
changng; refusng to be kept n nerta.
Socety? When Arstotle sad two thousand years ago He who
s unable to lve n socety, or who has no need because he s
suffcent for hmself, must be ether a beast or a god, he had n
mnd the nseparablty of an ndvdual from socety. Although
we are the ones who have brought t nto beng, t acqured the
power to please us, or otherwse, greve us, as n many cases t
has become an apparatus whch controls us, nstead of beng
6
controllable by us. It can both hurt us and heal us.
Open Socety? A socety whch s aware of ts nherent possblty
of errng, whch does not turn grand and frozen dctums nto
laws of exstence, recognzes that truth s nobodys monopoly. A
socety respectful to dfferent vews, varous expectatons and
ready to acknowledge the need for nsttutons and organzatons
that protect ndvduals rghts to lve peacefully together.
Is t easy to acheve? Is t possble for everybody, n the same
breath, and wthout any excepton agree on an understandng
of a socety descrbed above?
Brtsh phlosopher Karl Popper, who developed the dea of Open
Socety and turned t a poltcal concept wdely accepted across
the world, does not thnk so. [T]hs cvlzaton has not yet fully
recovered from the shock of ts brth the transton from the
trbal or enclosed socety, wth ts submsson to magcal forces,
to the open socety whch sets free the crtcal powers of man.
The key concepts n hs defnton of Open Socety are the freedom
of crtcal powers and capabltes of human mnd, ndvduals
unlmted freedom to communcate wth the outer world, a crtcal
mnd that would enable contnuous development and change.
It s for ths reason that the Open Socety Foundaton has
started ts actvtes n Turkey, that s to say, to contrbute the
creaton of an envronment where the potental of ndvduals
crtcal mnd can be fully realzed, where such crtcal mnds are
gven the freedom to produce deas and where there s enough
encouragement and stmulaton to ths end. Everythng we, as the
Open Socety Foundaton, do n Turkey ams and wll contnue to
am at makng our contrbuton and support for the creaton of
an open socety sustanable and lastng.
Open Socety s an envronment where everythng can be freely
dscussed and debated and where there s no place for taboos, n
other words the obstacles to change. Open socety s commtted
to democracy and contnuous change, defends the rghts of
communtes and ndvduals aganst authortaran systems. Its
objectve s to further empower the cvl socety to enable the
ndvdual to decde on hs or her own lfe.
It s the Open Socetys am to pave the way for the condtons
that would enable the ndvdual to freely develop hs/her whole
potental. It advocates equal opportuntes to everybody and
7
objects all forms of dscrmnaton; upholds unversal human
rghts law over all personal or group nterests, and ams at a
socety where the ndvdual can feel hmself/herself a ctzen of
the world, leads a lfe n full safety wth all hs/her dfferences.
And yes, Open Socety s a lvng beng made up of responsble
ndvduals who are deeply aware of ther rghts and freedoms,
respectng and defendng the rghts of those who are dfferent,
always guded by ther crtcal mnds, an understandng of
mutual tolerance and soldarty; and demandng a transparent
and accountable government that works for ts people.
We started our journey to uphold openness, transparency and
soldarty, and to rase the awareness that dversty s a frutful
asset. We are not content wth just supportng and promotng
these prncples, we am to translate these nto lfe. We refuse to be
self-satsfed wth what we have done and are currently dong, we
wll always seek for more. Ths report s ntended to share wth you
only part of what we acheved n our last fve years. We wsh, and we
beleve that there wll be, many more years together wth you our
frends, when we wll make new, better, brghter achevements and
reach greater number of people to accompany us get closer to the
deal of Open Socety at every step we take.
 Its professional staff limited in number but dedicated to our cause and its advisory board
ANOTHER FIVE comprising distinguished, visionary and voluntary members, supported numerous projects
with a social impact reaching far beyond their budgets.
YEARS WORK I am proud of each of these projects and congratulate all my colleagues who have

FOR THE
contributed to their successful implementation.
We have published activity reports covering Open Society Institutes activities between 2001-

OPEN SOCIETY 2008.

This report summarizes our major activities during the five years from 2009, the year our

IDEAL Foundation was established, to 2013.

You will see in this report that we succeeded in a relatively short time to reach a number
of people, a caring section of the society, of such a scale and diversity and that we made it
Is freedom and democracy a right? possible for them to realize their projects and supported them to raise their voice for their
respective causes.
Yes!
We owe this rich diversity to our financial support policies based on firm principles and our
Do we need more freedom and more libertarian responses to societys demand by the
cooperation with other NGOs.
institutions of democracy?
Our aim remains unchanged

9
8

Yes, again!
Let us put it the other way round:
Are we in favor of freedom of expression and freedom of press? Would a powerful civil society
satisfy us? Do we want an independent and impartial media? Are we sensitive and respectful
to human rights?
Do we reject all forms of inequality? Do we need a responsible, accountable and transparent
government?
Yes.
The story of Open Society in Turkey dating back to August 2001 is concordant to the stories
of those who have been looking for meaningful answers to the above questions.
I have always felt myself delighted to work with a team I am honored to be a part of for the
realization of the open society ideal, to contribute to our shared vision to get closer to this
ideal in an organization first set up as an institute, thereafter since 2009, operating as a
foundation.
The network of Open Society Foundations is active at an international scale in 72 countries
of the world.
The funds needed for such large scale activities are provided by George Soros, the founder
of this network, who is widely accepted to be the most successful investor of the Wall Street
history. As you will see in this report the Open Society Foundation in Turkey enjoys an
average yearly allocation of TL 4 million from this fund.
The Open Society Foundation Turkey will continue, just as it has done until now, to use this
fund in the most ethical and proper manner to build a better future for our country.
Those who are committed to the open society ideal have always taken the side of the
individual and the society for nearly half a century.
Similarly Open Society Foundation in Turkey will continue with its efforts, just as before, to
cooperate with public and civil society, for the fulfilment of the criteria of an open society,
institutionalization of basic rights and freedoms, rule of law and a pluralistic democracy.

Now our Foundation is five years old. Sincerely,

Open Society Foundation carried out its activities throughout its history in line with the shak Alaton
principles of pluralistic democracy based on rule of law, without favoring any political party Board Chairman
or ideological position. Open Society Foundation, Turkey
 TSEV (Third Sector Foundation of Turkey), Anatolian Culture, KAMER (Womens
OPEN Center Foundation) and LGBT organizations; and 15 Public Institutions such as Ko,
Bilgi, Kltr and Boazii Universities.

REFLECTIONS Throughout the course of these 252 projects funded by our Foundation the number of
people we have reached (by means of seminars, training courses, meetings, neighborhood

ON THE FIRST visits) totaled 755,774!

FIVE YEARS 75 252

NGOs PROJECTS
15
Looking back many years from now its very likely that we will remember 2013 as the year PUBLIC
when Turkeys young generations rose to defend their rights and freedoms, resorting to only
a refined sense of humor instead of violence and staging a resistance at such a scale and in
INSTITUTIONS
such a manner to astonish the whole world. Still its very likely that 2014 will be remembered
as the year when Turkey felt most urgently the need for good governance, transparency and
administrative monitoring. These two experiences taking place during the period covering
the second half of 2013 and the first months of 2014, the period when this report was 755,774
being prepared, proved once again that Turkeys need for an open society stems from such PEOPLE
10

11
substantial, actual reasons.
As a matter of fact the open society ideal goes beyond Turkeys borders, reflecting and
expressing a universal vision.
110 surveys were conducted, 355 publications (books, brochures, magazines, films) were
5 years, 252 projects produced and 22 interactive informative websites were launched within the framework
of these projects.
The Open Society Foundation Turkey, since its establishment on 1 January 2009, supports
individuals and organizations that carry out scientific, social and cultural activities aiming 1613 press reports were published in newspapers and periodicals as well as news
at the development of a society more sensitive to human rights, to democracy and to broadcast in TV channels.*
universal values. With this activity report we are sharing with you an important part of our
activities during the five years between 2009-2013.
110 355
During this period we supported hundreds of projects. In some of these projects we actually SURVEYS PUBLICATIONS
took part in their implementation and there were others which were directly initiated by us,
as the Open Society Foundation. However the largest part of the projects was carried out in
cooperation with organizations with which we shared common values and which we were
pleased to provide support. It is impossible to give a complete and thorough statistical data
about all the work done with our support, but we can provide a summary of the outcome in 22
more general terms: WEB
In this five-year period we supported and provided funds for a total of 252 projects SITES
implemented by 75 NGOs including TOG (Community Volunteers Foundation), TESEV 1613 *Data about the media
(The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation), DTAM (Tigris Communal PRESS coverage were obtained
Research Center), DSA (Diyarbakr Institute for Political and Social Research) SALT, REPORTS from Ajans Press database.
 During this 5-year period a total of TL. 11,617,688 were spent for supporting projects Facing challenges NUMBER OF
NUMBER OF conducted by NGOs and public institutions. BENEFICIARIES
PROJECTS BY As it is known Open Society Network is an international non-governmental BY YEARS
FIELD OF ACTIVITY organization funded by George Soros. The network today operates in 72 countries and

41
Total Amount Of Grants Between comprises liaison offices, institutes, thematic programs and national foundations.
13,289
26
15
2009-2013 (tl) The history of the Network dates back to 1979 when it was first founded in New York. Its 20,770

5 priority areas were democracy, human rights and education. Here are some examples of
26 the Networks international support programs: 2,711
2,265
98 Offered scholarships to black students in South Africa during 1980s when the country 303
41 11,617,688 was under the Apartheid regime to enable them to attend universities of whites.
Sent photocopy machines to dissident intellectuals living under Central European
regimes to reproduce their writings as they couldnt have their works published by state

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009
controlled printing houses.
Education

European Union

Civil Society

Disadvantaged Groups

Gender

Media

Reform

To ta l B u d g e t O f Pr o j e c t s W h c h Supplied electricity and water to Sarajevo in 1990s when the city was under blockade; Total number of
Were Supported By Open Socety fruit and vegetable seeds were distributed to the Sarajevo people to help them grow their benefcares:
F o u n d a t o n Tu r k e y ( t l ) own food. 39,338
Donated USD 1 billion to Russia in the aftermath of the Cold War, believing that the
West should feel responsible for the countrys situation. USD 100 million of this sum
12

13
was spent for helping Russian scientists to help them remain in their country and keep
36,295,926 working.
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
Provided funds to human rights organizations in the USA after September 11 attacks
PARTICIPANTS A history of 15 years RESEARCHES
BY YEARS to prevent the security measures from violating freedoms. For example supported
BY YEARS
The story of Open Society Foundation, Turkey is not limited to the figures given above, organizations protecting Muslim refugees rights.
or the witnesses and stories you will find in this report, or only the 5 years this report Started a wide scale campaign in the EU countries against rising racism in recent years. 5
48,120 12
47,381 covers. 7
As can be seen from the above examples working for the open society ideal needs to
We have a history of 15 years in Turkey. The three years between 1999-2001 was a 27
wage a different struggle depending on country and period in question. Work done for
18,654
15,445
period of research and evaluation when we sought the answers for questions as to sending photocopy machines in a country for freedom of expression, or distributing
59
24,571 whether the Open Society Network founded by the US investor George Soros should fruit and vegetable seeds in another place under embargo, or supporting scientists living
extend its activities to cover Turkey as well, if yes what kind of a structure it should under authoritarian regimes to flee from their country to save their lives, or aiding
adopt, and to whom we should invite to take part in its foundation. scientist in another country to carry on with their endeavors, are all based on shared
fundamental values. It is just for this reason that our manner of working, methods
Open Society Institute was founded as an outcome of a process whereby nearly 200 of supporting projects or our priorities can vary from one country to other, while our
2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2013

2012

2011

2010

meetings were held with opinion makers, politicians, academics and activists from all
quarters of society and carried out its activities for eight years as an institute. Activity
Total number
of partcpants: reports covering the first 8 years can be found on its website.
154,171 In 2008 Open Society Foundation was founded to provide our organization, which
had acquired comprehensive experience and expertise during these years, with a better
defined legal structure. This report is a summary of our Foundations first 5 years work.
2009
fundamental values remain unchanged. What determines the areas of our support is not
our own choice but the taboos in the country we are based, the practices undermining
Total number
freedom of expression, groups who find themselves in a disadvantaged position because of researches:
of prejudices and discrimination. 110
On the other hand, being a part of a network which for many years realized numerous
daring projects across the world, our efforts at local level for greater democracy and
 NUMBER OF FILM
SCREENINGS AND
NUMBER OF pluralism and our support to initiatives aiming the same were used as a grounds every effort by arranging contacts and seeking solutions at every visit to Turkey and EXHIBITIONS
PUBLICATIONS for putting us at the center of a number of conspiracy theories. We even faced grave every meeting in the EU capital organized by the Independent Commission on Turkey ORGANIZED
BY YEARS BY YEARS
accusations and even allegations beyond imagination. which was set up 10 years ago by our Foundation and which continues its activities
successfully since then.
124
However we were quite aware, right from the start, that in Turkey and elsewhere in 130
40 the world to stand against oppression, violence and exclusion of all kinds, as well Lets continue our journey side by side 37
34
14 as supporting nonviolent and creative methods would not be easy and it would very
It was this hope that enabled us to leave behind the 15 years work of Open Society and 5
102 likely attract severe negative responses. Still trying to explain what and why we do,
years work of our Foundation in Turkey and with this hope we continue our journey. 157
while at the same time taking care to be local and transparent as much as possible is
66
75 a serious challenge which sometimes can be very discouraging. But we dont have any We have a very strong and effective Board of Directors guiding us with its visionary
other chance: just like Sisyphus we, after losing the battle every evening, continue next approach and suggestions. Similarly our Advisory Board, which decides on the projects
morning at the sun rise our efforts to make Turkey a more open society. that we will support, made up of competent and influential members representing every
single region and thousands of different colors of Turkey help us to draw the line of our
But we have thousands of hopes
2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009
activities. (The Advisory Board of Open Society Foundation, Turkey, as is the case with
elsewhere in the world, identifies the projects eligible for our support. The names of the
During this journey, theres no doubt that we go through extraordinary experiences
Total number Board members can be found at the end of this part.) Total number of
that give us the courage, energy and resilience to go on with strong motivation and
of publcatons: hopefulness. We are proud that the international Open Society Network attaches importance to and flms/exhbtons:
355 424
supports our activities.
People we meet, talk and we cooperate with and people who inspire us convey this hope
with the look in their eyes, with their words, and with their smile. We have already identified the strategic fields of activity for the coming 5-year period.
These are, improving EU-Turkey relations, efforts to stop violence against women, NUMBER OF
14

15
TRAININGS/
NUMBER I mean all the individuals, one by one, who make up the 755,000 people we have work against all kinds of inequality based on gender, fighting against inequalities and
MEETINGS/PANEL
OF COPIES reached, as I mentioned above. discrimination in education, reforms for more democracy, creating a basis for dialogue DISCUSSIONS/
DISSEMINATED between polarized social groups, supporting initiatives to confront the past and memory WORKSHOPS
BY YEARS Some examples: studies for a more democratic society and projects to improve freedom of media and BY YEARS
expression.
The woman we met at KAMERs center in Erzincan whose throat was cut by her
70,500
husband. It was during KAMERs field work we supported. Carrying the scar on her In short we enjoy a very good team, visionary strategies built on the needs of the society 352
52,000
neck and in her heart, she was sharing with other women who faced domestic violence, and resources to realize our aims. Then theres not much left to say, except: Lets keep 831
44,515 her experience of overcoming the trauma and starting a new life, and encouraging them going side by side! 421
20,500 to do the same. 134
Gke Tylolu
54,750 321
We saw that hope in the eyes of this woman. Executive Director
Open Society Foundation, Turkey
Mediterranean Children Art Atelier and Etude Centre founded in Mersin with our
support is now turned into a permanent institution by the Ministry of Family and Social
2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009
Policies. The happiness we saw in the eyes of a small boy at this Center was another
source of hope for us. He was trying to express how he felt with such an enthusiasm:
Total number Miss, our home has only one room where all the family members live together. But here Total number:
of copes I now have a room where I can be on my own to study my lessons. And many more 2,059
dssemnated: examples
242,265
We are delighted and deeply motivated by the commitment we see in the eyes of the
opinion leaders who work selflessly for Turkeys EU membership and continue to make
 NUMBER OF Advsory Boards 2009-2013
NUMBER OF PROJECTS TOTAL AMOUNT
WEBSITES OPENED SUPPORTED OF GRANTS BY
BY YEARS BY YEARS SIZE (TL)

71 84,191
2 33 511,966
9
11,021,532 Advsory Board, 2013:
4 35
Murat Sungar (Char), Hakan Altnay, Nebahat Akko,
67
5 Mustafa Akyol, Ayhan Bilgen, Ferhat Boratav,
2 46 Ruen akr, Necdet pekyz and Sedat Yurtda.

Advsory Board, 2012:

travel grant

small grant

main grant
2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009
Hakan Altnay (Char), Asaf Sava Akat, Ayhan Bilgen,
Ferhat Boratav, Ruen akr, Necdet pekyz,
Total webste ebnem Karauak, Mehmet Kaya and Murat Sungar.
number:
22
Advsory Board, 2011:
Hakan Altnay (Char), Asaf Sava Akat, Sabih Ata,
16

17
Ferhat Boratav, Temel skit, ebnem Karauak,
TOTAL AMOUNT Mehmet Kaya, Elisabeth zdalga and Murat Sungar.
TOTAL AMOUNT NUMBER OF OF GRANTS
OF GRANTS BY PROJECTS BY TYPE BY FIELD OF
YEARS (TL) OF SUPPORT ACTIVITY (TL)
Advsory Board, 2010:
3,347,945 Can Paker (Char), Hakan Altnay, Nurcan Baysal,
3,250,239
2,294,406 Ferhat Boratav, Eyp Can, Temel skit, ebnem Karauak,
2,076,562
65 1,101,654 Elisabeth zdalga and Murat Sungar.
2,085,569 117
226,230
2,314,282 70 1,198,555
1,891,036 1,596,630 Advsory Board, 2009:
1,852,268
Can Paker (Char), Suay Aksoy, Nurcan Baysal,
Eyp Can, Zlf Dicleli, Melih Fereli, Temel skit,
ebnem Karauak and Murat Sungar.
travel grant

small grant

main grant

Education

European Union

Civil Society

Disadvantaged Groups

Gender

Media

Reform
2013

2012

2011

2010

2009
18

19
REFORM
 To prove that
askng forgveness
does not
dsempower one;
NEVER AGAIN!
that, on the
contrary, glorfy
COMING TO
the leaders who
choose to do so;
and that
TERMS WITH
to recognze
the damage
PAST AND
done helps
reconclaton APOLOGY
The first quarter of the 21st century will go down in
history as a period of confession and redemption in the world and
Turkey. The civil society has a critical role to play in this regard.
I am an entrepreneur. We all know that, supply cannot exist
without demand. It would be in vain to expect the state authority
20

to embark upon such a process unless there is strong demand

for it. And not just certain groups, but voices and colors from all
sectors of the society must raise this demand. SHAK ALATON,
From the foreword to the book Never Again! Coming to terms
with the past and apology
Never Again! Coming to terms with the
past and Apology exhibition organized
jointly by Open Society Foundation and
Anatolian Culture aimed at drawing
attention to the need to come to terms
with ones past - one of the most important
questions of our day both in our country
and in the world in terms of societal peace.
A book and a detailed catalogue were also
published to support the exhibition which
was open between 25 October and 15
December 2013 at Depo/Tophane.
Willy Brandts apology
The book, a compilation of articles by
writers and scholars studying on coming
to terms with the past, was published
by letisim Publishing House under the
heading Never Again! Coming to terms
with the past and Apology.
The exhibition was a product of hard work
and a high level of creativeness, providing
an impressive collection of how various
societies have come to terms with the
conflicts, mass murders and genocides
that caused great losses in their past.
to Jews on behalf of
German nation by
kneeling down before
the Ghetto Monument
Striking examples were given by means of
photographs, documents, documentaries,
videos and witness accounts, as to how a
Apology to the people of Chile by the
number of countries leaders apologized
from the victims on behalf of their states
and nations.
Below are some of the cases from the
An apology from France has yet to come to the
exhibition:
The apology to Jews for Holocaust on behalf
of German nation by Willy Brandt,
the prime minister of West Germany,
when he kneeled down before the
Warsaw Ghetto Monument on 7
December 1970.
to prevent the actions of the
President Patricio Aylwin
on 4 March 1991, under the rule
of Pinochet (1973-1991).
people of Algeria for the war crimes and
human rights violations it committed
in this country during the colonial
era (1830-1962) and the Algerian
Independence War that followed it.
21
Lies are the anteroom of
violence and, therefore, are
incompatible with peace.
Terrorism or a state of
internal war cannot be invoked
to justify the human rights
violations. The future of Chile
requires a process of apology
and reconciliation regarding
the irreparable wounds of
the past. Both the state and
the society that did not react
state bear a joint responsibility
for these wounds. I, as the
President of the State, assume
the responsibility for the entire
nation and apologize. Apology
is a must for societal peace.
Patricio Aylwin, the then
Chilean President,
2 March 1991

22
Apologies by the US Presidents from the
American citizens of Japanese origin
held in concentration camps during the
World War II.
The apology extended by the British Prime
Minister David Cameron on behalf of
the Great Britain Government on 15
June 2010 for the killing of 14 unarmed
demonstrators on 30 January 1972
the Bloody Sunday.
Apology by the Serbian Parliament on
31 March 2010 for the Srebrenica
Massacre in July 1995.
Bulgarian Parliaments apology on 12
January 2012 for the repression and
assimilation practices targeting the
Turkish minority in the country within
the framework of the Rebirth Process
Policies during the period 1984-1990.
Apology by the Australian Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd to the Aborigines and
Torres Strait Islanders for their Lost
Generation, i.e. the children forcefully
separated from their families (1869-
1969).
In realizing this project what guided us
was the belief that a societys confrontation
with its past human rights violations is a
significant step towards becoming an open
society. In many countries of the world
transition to democracy was facilitated by
coming to terms with the past mistakes
and by recognizing the truth. This is
because the justice, not only for the past
but for today and for the future, can only be
left: the weekly Agos,
25 October 2013, Emre
Can Dalolu
right: the daily Hrriyet,
20 October 2013, Gke
Aytulu
restored in societies with past sufferings
by confronting the historical truths and
23
by introducing legal and administrative
frameworks for healing the injuries of
victims and for saying never again!
The main message of the exhibition which
enjoyed thousands of visitors in Istanbul
and gained wide media coverage, is reflected
in the following words of nder zengi,
its curator: A states apology should not
amount to glossing over a past crime with
a hasty excuse, or ending a period to forge
ahead; but rather, creating the necessary
conditions to ensure that past crimes are
not repeated. In this regard, the issues of
facing the past and apologizing are closely
related to questions such as what kind of a
society we want to live in and what kind of
a common future we want to create.
In order to reach a wider audience in
2014 the exhibition will be carried to the
provinces of zmir, Samsun, Diyarbakr,
Ankara and will be available in digital format
on the website www.birdahaasla.org.tr.
 To hear and
sympathze wth
each other,
look at others
experences
through the prsm
of our conscence,
and start wth
questonng
ANATOLIAN
ourselves
before others CONSCIENCE
Peace will be built by the languages that bind us
together, not when we shut ourselves off in our own little cocoons.
And only then, unlike 40 years ago, I will start to understand the
mother tongue of another without even speaking, because both
my ears and my heart will be familiar to it. When everybody
achieves self-realization in his/her own mother tongue we can
reunite in a society where our civilizations multicultural and multi-
identity qualities are revived. We will multiply with the energy
24

25
generated by all mother tongues which bond us to the other with
their suffixes, affixes, conjunctions, and all etymological elements.
This is what I believe. LEYLA PEK, Anatolian Conscience

above: the daily Sabah,

8 September 2011,
Mahmut vr

above right: the daily

We had only one objective in mind when
we started preparing our book Anatolian
Conscience published in 2011, where we
elaborated on the Kurdish question with
an approach driven by human stories
and not by ideologies, convictions or
commonplace suggestions: to show that in
a country with big past traumas everybody
could look at others sufferings while at
the same time grieving for his/her own. To
this end we selected a number of incidents
and experiences deeply engraved in our
collective memories and invited poets,
writers and opinion makers to tell us their
reflections and memories in connection
with each incident.
Our collection of articles printed in
more than 20,000 copies in Turkish
and Kurdish, was prepared in a spirit
based on our conviction that no one-
sided perspective can be capable of
comprehending a social reality in an all-
round manner with all its dimensions and
received significant media coverage. Medical
Taraf, 31 August 2011
below right: the daily
Radikal, 9 April 2011
Doctor and human rights activist Necdet
pekyzs article Where the ember falls,
and the Vice President of Journalists and
Writers Foundation and journalist Cemal
Uaks Words afflict deeper wounds
are the pieces which express the spirit of
the whole book. pekyz tells us how he
faced with his own prejudices when he
 photograph: Hasan
Saltk, personal archive

above left: photograph:

When their daughter whom Atilla Durak
they named Hicret (Turkish left: photograph: The
word for migration) to ensure archive of daily Sabah
that they would never forget
left below: photograph:
what they had gone through, Atilla Durak
asked questions like: Is
Mardin very far away dad? above: photograph:
The personal archive of
Our village is there, isnt it?
Orhan Mirolu
Shall we go there? Her father
had no choice but tell her fairy
She will be at her 17 forever:
tales: My girl, there are evil
Serap Eser was a high-school
spirits there, all houses are
student at her last year. She
empty, we cannot go. But its
26

27
was on her way home in
not that easy to answer the
Kanarya neighborhood in
fathers question: I assured
Kkekmece, Istanbul, in
my daughter by such tales, but
a city bus on 8 November
how will I be able to assure
2009. She was just about to
myself? Those evil spirits dwell
get off the bus when six men
in me. How can I exorcize
with masks on their faces
them, how can I free myself
dropped Molotov cocktails in
from them for good?
the bus. Serap was trapped
On Internal in the flames and died on 24
Displacements, Bahar December 2009. Her elder
ahin Frat, Istanbul Bilgi brother Umit Eser wrote in
University the serapeser.blogspot.com he
opened in the memory of his
sister: Turkey covered this
shame with solid earth. The
expected hostility towards Kurds from only blame that can be put on
a family he met in the Black Sea region; my sister is going to school and
and Uak proves that conscience has no her only weapon was the books
color, no language, no religion and no sect in her school bag. She died at
when, reflecting on the ban on Kurdish 17 and will be at 17 forever.
language, he says: I cannot talk on behalf On the Molotov cocktail
of others, but I personally apologize to my thrown in the bus - Ferda
Kurdish brothers and sisters and ask their Balancar, journalist,
forgiveness. researcher, writer.
 } TESEV
The Turksh
Economc and
Socal Studes
Foundaton

The Foundation aims to conduct studies on major

issues Turkey faces, offer alternative solutions, create an impact
on policy-making processes to solve the countrys chronic
problems and enhance public awareness on these issues. Its main

29
28

purpose is to contribute to the democratization of Turkey. From

TESEVs vision

We, as the Open Society initially operating
as a liaison office, then as a representation
bureau and since 2009 as a national
foundation have been one of the main
supporters of those TESEVs activities
which are in line with the open society
ideal. Working on three main fields, namely
Democratization Program, Foreign Policy
Program and Good Governance Program,
TESEVs objective is to lay down the
foundations of democratization in the civil
society, by encouraging freedom of speech
on taboo issues of Turkey, embracing a wide
diversity of different views, disseminating
information, and enhancing public
awareness.
During the period covered by our Activity
Report TESEV published more than 100
books in English and Turkish, organized
numerous events, conferences and publicity
meetings.
Even taking a look at a selection of TESEV
books published between 2009-2013 one
can notice the wide range of Turkeys vital
questions that the Foundation is dealing with.
In the book EU-Turkey Relations: Towards
a Constructive Re-engagement? Aycan
Akdeniz, a member of EU Turkey Delegation
provides an assessment of the tentative
optimism observed in the light of the recent
developments following the period when
EU-Turkey relations came to a standstill.
30
Judicial Reform Packages: Evaluating
Their Effect on Rights and Freedoms
authored by Naim Karakaya and Hande
zhabe, focuses on the four judicial reform
packages introduced from 2001 on and
evaluates them from the perspective of
freedom of expression, right to personal
liberty and security, right to a fair trial and
the criminal execution system.
The report titled Communicating
Democracy Democratizing
Communication: Media in Turkey
31
Legislation, Policies, Actors prepared their high education and professional
by Esra Elmas and Dilek Kurban offers a background.
comprehensive critical analysis of Turkish
In addition to its publications TESEV
media in view of the social, political and
organizes meetings, panel discussions and
ethical task of democratization.
workshops at home and abroad to continue
Dilek Cindolu, in her report Headscarf with its search for solutions and exchange
Ban and Discrimination: Professional of views.
Headscarved Women in the Labor
Market gives an account of problems,
discriminatory practices and obstacles the
headscarved women face in their workplace
just because of their headscarves despite
 For a holstc
approach to
SOCIAL
nequaltes, not
focusng only
economc njustce
POLICY
or dealng
exclusvely wth
FORUM:
dentty-based
dscrmnaton,
but lookng
RESEARCH ON
at both wth a
comprehensve
INEQUALITIES
understandng of
nequalty IN TURKEY A heart-rending fact
from the report:
The daily Milliyet, 2 May
2012

Turkey ranks the top amongst the

OECD countries in terms of child poverty.
[This study] helps us to recognize that an environ-
318,000 of the total number of children of
ment where constitutional rights prevail aiming at social inclusion
school age between 6-14 years are working.
supported by a shared political will is a must if we aspire to live Around 6% of the children in the age bracket of
in a society that is made up of free and equal individuals and
32

33
6-17 work in wage-earning jobs and 70% of these
that enables the exercise of freedoms based on equality. I believe do not attend school. 23,683 children in the eastern
this also conveys a message which should be attached great provinces of Diyarbakr, Batman, Adana, Adyaman,
importance while making efforts for the restructuring of politics anlurfa and Gaziantep work as seasonal
Prof. Dr. AYE BURA, Research Advisor agricultural workers. Between the years
1999-2005, i.e. in 6 years around 440,000
children joined the labor market without
receiving their primary school
diplomas.
As a result here is the picture
we get: Some groups in
The research Inequalities in Turkey: To this end a series of open-ended face-to- Turkey suffer greatly both
Search for a Comprehensive Conceptual face in-depth interviews were conducted socio-economic inequality
Framework conducted by Boazii with individuals experiencing different types and inequality based on
University Social Policy Forum was led by of inequalities in Istanbul through Social discrimination. Moreover
Prof. Dr. Aye Bura as the advisor and Asst. Assistance and Solidarity Foundations these groups, deprived of
Prof. Dr. Ayen Canda as the director. established in every district of the city and political representation
The two aspects of the topic, the socio- political representation on the one hand, cannot politicize their
the NGOs supporting or established by
The study was driven by the belief economic inequalities and inequalities and discrimination-driven inequalities and problems. This results in
disadvantaged groups.
that political/civil and social rights are based on discrimination, which are often therefore how they perpetuate each other. a vicious circle and they
interrelated and therefore an improvement The report prepared as an output of treated like alternatives to each other are gradually alienate from
in one of these would support positive this research and launched during an dealt with as an inseparable whole in the The report won the Milliyet rsan ymen the society and political
changes in the other. The ultimate aim was international conference organized by the report. It illustrates how interwoven and Research Award in 2010 on grounds of its mechanisms altogether.
to establish a conceptual bridge between Social Policy Forum in June 2010 revealed interactive are the socio-economic equalities being a scientific work analyzing Turkeys Ayen Canda, Research
these two within a framework based on a extraordinarily striking findings about in areas such as distribution of income, political and social structure within a Director The daily
holistic understanding of human rights. permanent inequalities in Turkey. employment, social security, education and constitutional framework. Milliyet, 18 July 2010
 For Roma chldren
to freely express
themselves n
an envronment
MEDITERRANEAN
of equal
opportuntes for
access to the rght
CHILDREN ART
of educaton and
of respect to ther
ATELIER AND
dentty, culture
and lfe style ETUDE CENTRE
The rate of absenteeism dropped. Children are much
more motivated to attend the school. Undernutrition amongst
Roma children due to their economically disadvantaged families
undermined their ability to concentrate. Our contacts with the
Governors Office bore fruit and now our Center enjoys two free
meals a day. The Etude Centre both increased their performance
at school and enabled them to discover a totally new world by
participating in social activities and sightseeing tours. The teachers
34

35
approach to children has also changed in the course of time. In short
Centre proved that a different life was possible. HACER FOGGO,
Project Advisor

Roma constitute one of the groups suffering
the severest discrimination in Turkey and
in the world. The most effective factor
underpinning this gruesome reality is the
Roma communities low education level.
Main problems to be addressed in this field
are the low school attendance, high drop-
out rates and poor quality of the education
they receive. The families lack of adequate
financial means and the discrimination
Roma children encounter at school are two
major reasons for such low education level.
At the
Mediterranean
Children Art Atelier and
Etude Center
Roma associations in the Mediterranean Professional teachers assist children
of 7-13 ages during etude hours in studying
region of Turkey joined forces and carried above: Roma quarter in
Mersin their school courses.
out a research, finding out that the
They are given rhythm courses at the Rhythm
common problems of their community below: Mediterranean
Atelier by a master musician and give concerts
prevailed in their region to the highest Children Art Atelier and
at events organized by the schools in their
Etude Center, music
extent. Discrimination in the labor vicinity and by other
workshops
market was severe, resulting in very high cultural centers.
unemployment rates. Roma children were They are taken to city tours and
born to a world of utmost uncertainty they take part in various cultural
and grew up under these circumstances. and art festivals.
They got together and decided to launch
an initiative in Mersin that would set an
 Our homes have always
only one room. I have always
longed for a room of my own
to study my lessons. I dont
need it anymore, because we
have our Etude Center now.
A student of the Etude
Center.

An exemplary
cooperation with public
authorities:
The Federation opened 19 literacy courses
as well as needlecraft and overlock courses to
help Roma women acquire professional qualifications in
cooperation with Public Education Center.
Organizes every year the traditional Hdrellez early spring
festivities with the support of municipalities.
Started a Bamboo Furniture Workshop where 19 youngsters got
36

37
their certificates, opened up employment opportunities by organizing
straw plaiting and umbrella manufacturing courses for Roma in
coordination with the Governors Office of Mersin, ISKUR (Public
Employment Agency) and Public Education Center.
Organizes note reading and solfge classes for Roma children in
cooperation with the Governors Office of Mersin, Mediterranean
Provincial National Education Directorate and
Public Education Center.
Took part in the Conference organized by the
National Education Ministry in 2011 on Access to
Quality Education by Children Under Risk
Roma Children and Education.
Mediterranean Children
Art Atelier and Etude
Center, etude hour

example to the region and to Turkey as
a whole. This was how Mediterranean
Children Art Atelier and Etude Center was
set up.
When Mediterranean Roma Associations
Federation approached us for support we
welcomed this undertaking as a Foundation
giving priority to initiatives in support
of efforts to enable members of different
identities to live as equal citizens.
The Federation worked in perfect
coordination with public authorities in
turning the Center into a permanent
institution and set an example for joint
initiatives by public authorities and the
civil society.
The success of the Etude Center drew the
attention of the Ministry of Family and
Social Policies which supported the project
to ensure its sustainability and helped them
to move to a new 5-storey building.
Its obvious that a single successful project
cannot eradicate the grave conditions of
discrimination the Roma children are
constantly facing, however the pioneering
initiative launched by the Mediterranean
Roma Associations Federation is capable
of being a model for the efforts to provide
Roma children with equal opportunities to
access the right of education and lower their
high drop-out levels at school.
 For the rght part of all concerned stakeholders was We hope this project will pioneer the efforts
to equal among our priorities as the Open Society for enabling inmates inclusion in the
opportuntes Foundation right from the start. social life and generating opportunities
for access to
educaton,
for openng the
PROJECTS The project was therefore in perfect
concordance with our Foundations
and resources to realize social justice with
increasing support from civil society.

doors of prsons
to educaton,
OF THE CIVIL objectives in the field of education.

The project bore fruits which were deeply

CISST draws attention to the significance
of participation of prisoners in educational
activities up to European Union standards
for detanees
and convcts
losng the chance
SOCIETY IN THE meaningful for us. During the first two
years of the project we contributed to more
and norms and to the need to take into
consideration individuals social, economic
I am a drop-out from high-
school. I realized better in

PENAL SYSTEM
than 50 prisoners enrolment to university. and cultural background in conducting such prison what lack of education
to attend the Afterwards the government introduced had done to me. I enrolled to
activities. Enabling the civil society to act as
unversty tuition exemption for detainees and open high school and finished
a pressure group for the implementation of
due to lack of
fnancal sources ASSOCIATION convicts which ensured the sustainability of
the projects success.
EU norms and standards in this respect is
one of the top priorities of the Association.
it. I then took the university
entry exams and won four-
year business administration
department. My family was
delighted. We are 7 children
I have been in prison for 16 years. Before my
in our family. It was a big
prison days I was a student at the faculty of medicine. I wanted surprise to me when my two
to continue my higher education in the prison and entered the brothers who were also drop-
university entry examinations. I won the Information Management

39
38

outs from high-school said

Department of the University of Anatolia where the classes are to me we will follow you.
attended through internet. I wrote to the Justice Ministry and I learned that they had also
the Prison Administration for permission to receive on-line enrolled in open high-school. I
From Recommendation Rec
education and they accepted. Now there were no technical or was thrilled. After graduation
(2006)2 by the Council of Europe,
administrative obstacles, however a much more surmountable I will complete my two years
Committee of Ministers on the European Prison
obstacle was waiting for me. I dont have the TL.1600 to pay the traineeship and then work
Rules:
as an independent financial
tuition [around $800 dollars] required for this department. My 28-1: Every prison shall seek to provide all prisoners
advisor.
father died while I was in prison and my mother lives on an old- with access to educational programmes which are as
age pension. From a letter sent to our Foundation comprehensive as possible and which meet their individual H.G., 22, studying business
needs while taking into account their aspirations. administration with the
28-2: Priority shall be given to prisoners with literacy and scholarship provided by the
numeracy needs and those who lack basic or vocational education. CISST project.
Scholarship Project for Detainees and one of which was the Scholarship Project
28-3: Particular attention shall be paid to the education of young
Convicts for Detainees and Convicts. In case of
prisoners and those with special needs.
those in prisons who succeed in university 28-7: As far as practicable, the education of prisoners shall:
It was these words that set us on action. It
entry exams but cannot enroll due to a. be integrated with the educational and vocational training
was not hard to guess that there were many
others in prisons facing similar difficulties. economic reasons the Project provides aid system of the country so that after their release they
in order for them not to lose this chance may continue their education and vocational training
We contacted the Civil Society in the Penal
of lifetime importance. Making efforts for without difficulty; and
System Association (CISST) which we knew
b. take place under the auspices of external
was working hard to improve conditions of the creation of favorable conditions for
educational institutions.
prisons in Turkey to meet the international equal opportunities in accessing education,
standards. Since 2008 we have been encouraging the development of policies
providing support to activities of CISST, to this end and raising awareness on the

Prisons should be the
responsibility of not only the
Ministry of Justice, but also
of the society. Because those
who are sent to prisons are
the product of the society.
We aim to bring the physical
40
conditions in prisons up to
the international standards
and prevent human rights
violations.
Zafer Kra, Project
Coordinator
Civil Society and Prison Project
Another initiative by CISST in 2011 we
supported was the Civil Society and
Prisons Project. The aim was to mobilize
the NGOs working for various vulnerable
groups to address the problems of the
special needs prisoners and to bring these
needs to the attention of the civil society.
This was a project to serve as a model for
NGOs operating in different areas such as
education, arts, health and human rights to
join forces for a common cause.
What motivated CISST to develop this
project was the fact that the prisons in
Turkey kept totally outside the supervision
of the civil society and that the widespread
prejudices against prisoners contribute
to both civil societys and government
authorities lack of proper concern for the
problems in prisons.
The NGOs working with special needs
groups and taking part in the Project set up
dedicated groups to visit and examine the
conditions in 15 prisons in Istanbul for one
and a half years, observing the conditions
in the wards, workshops and shared spaces
in the prisons. The findings were compiled
in reports prepared for each prison and the
reports were presented to the relevant public
authorities and stakeholders.
A number of universities contributed to
the project as well. The Dou University
supported vocational courses for prisoners,
the Galatasaray University helped to
ease the difficulties experienced by the
teachers working in prisons, while the Ko
University undertook the responsibility of
programming the workshop hours and the
Bilgi University organized human rights
courses for the prison directors and guards.
Project for the Prevention of Human
Rights Violations in F-Type High
Security Prisons in Turkey
This project undertaken by the CISST
aimed to contribute to the creation of
conditions in prisons in compliance with
human rights norms, provide a sustainable
model for this purpose; reduce the isolation
of prisoners in this type of prisons and to
pave the way for the introduction of new
legal and administrative arrangements for
the improvements needed in this respect.
The project covered 13 F-type prisons
in 9 provinces, namely Adana, Ankara,
Bolu, Edirne, zmir, Krkkale, Kocaeli,
Tekirda and Van, accommodating a total
of 4,600 prisoners and around 1,700
employees. During the process not only
the representatives of human rights and
professional organizations, but also the
former convicts, prison administrators,
guards and officials from the General
Directorate of Prisons and Detention
Houses were consulted and their views and
suggestions were sought.
Upon the completion of the project the
meeting Life in F-Type High Security
Prisons: Problems of the Prisoners and
Employees and Suggestions for Solution
was organized with the participation of all
stakeholders in this field in Ankara.
I am supposed to make
observations about the impact
on the employees in prisons,
am I? I had asked. Then I
answered, all right, I will.
But I had a big question mark
in my mind. Why should I
study employees instead of
prisoners? I guess this was due
to my prejudice that the only
people who suffer in F-type
prisons were the prisoners.
Duysal Karaku,
psychologist, a member of
the project team
41
The findings of the project were
evaluated in a declaration where
suggestions were also listed for the solution of
The daily Radikal,
6 March 2010, the problems identified some of which can be found
Umay Akta Salman below:
Prison authorities and NGO representatives should be
in close contact and work in close cooperation. The Ministry
of Justice should not see human rights associations as its
adversaries.
Inpatient treatment centers should be established in F-type
prisons to address the problem of increasing number of prisoners
with cancer and other chronic diseases as a result of living
conditions and traumas experienced. Sustainability of the health
care services should be ensured.
Economic and employment conditions of guards who
are in close contact with prisoners should be improved.
Reactionary and punitive approaches increase
tensions. Disciplinary actions should be the
last measure to resort to.
 To develop
solutons for our
common problems
by reflectng on,
studyng, learnng
from and lstenng
to dversfed
vews about them,
and to make vsble
young peoples
perceptons and
narratves about
ther past -
the young people
who cant be
adequately vocal
despte the fact
YOUNG PEOPLE
that they make up
the majorty of the
OF TURKEY
populaton
n Turkey SPEAK OUT
42

43
From the website
www.gencleranlatiyor.
Oral history is a discipline of studying in a pro- com

fessional manner the narratives of ordinary people about their Then came the field work. 200 interviews place at Hamursuz Frn exhibition hall in
past and the present state of affairs and sharing them with were made with 100 people, men and Galata, Istanbul, between 30th November-
the public. We hope this project contributes to the efforts for women, most of them in their 20s from 29th December 2012. The exhibition
coming to terms with the past, democratization and reconciliation different socio-economic backgrounds and of featured the narratives of the young people
in Turkey. Prof. Dr. LEYLA NEYZ, Sabanc University, Project different ethnic origins in Berlin, in addition and their families about their past, how they
Director to Mula and Diyarbakr. The interviewees conceived and made sense of the current
described how they remember their past, environment they lived in, the economic
their families past, how they perceived the
activities they generated or were affected by,
present day, their experiences and expressed
their encounters and experiences.
This was a project we supported drawing on 2013. The project team comprising their views on current social issues.
our conviction that the democratization of members from the Universitys Faculty of The interviews made by Leyla Neyzi and
This time it was the youngsters who
the Turkish society starts with the liberation Arts and Social Sciences visited Mula, in Haydar Darc in Diyarbakr and Mula
wrote the history!
of the individual a project arguing that the western part of Turkey, and Diyarbakr as part of the project were compiled in
the liberation of the individual was only in the east. The team met in the two cities The website of the project www. the book I am Free but I Have Obligations
possible if he/she is able to confront his/her young people volunteering to take part in gencleranlatiyor.com was opened at published by the letiim Publishing House.
past, by looking at it with a critical eye. oral history training courses and to conduct the end of 2012 both with English and
the field work. Following this first contact Kurdish content. The most popular output Besides, the film Encounters/Lack of
Leyla Neyzi from the Sabanc University the volunteers were invited to Istanbul to of the project was the exhibition Between Encounters, an impressive output of
directed the project which was conducted receive oral history training at the Sabanc Imaginaries and Encounters: Young People the project, can be accessed through the
in three phases covering the years 2011 University. from Diyarbakr and Mula Speak which took projects website.
 For the
recognton of
the past human
rghts volatons;
mantanng the
THE UNSPOKEN
collectve memory;
buldng peace and
reconclaton;
TRUTH:
and callng the
authortes
ENFORCED
to account for
the volatons DISAPPEARANCES
The judiciary is unwilling to investigate the cases of
enforced disappearance, while information producing institutions
such as universities and NGOs are deliberately silent in the face
of such cases and the mainstream media use a language that
criminalizes the victims. From the report The Unspoken Truth:
Enforced Disappearances photograph from the
44

45
website of the Memory
Center

The Truth, Justice and Memory Studies
Association (The Memory Center) was set
up to document human rights violations
in the form of forced disappearances;
encourage data sharing amongst human
rights organizations working in this
area; to analyze laws and regulations that
obstruct justice and thereby to contribute
to the efforts for putting an end to the
public authorities impunity. We, as the
Open Society Foundation, believing in the
necessity to confront the past for societal
peace supported the Memory Center
from the very first day they started their
activities. Their project The Unspoken Truth:
Enforced Disappearances - Documentation,
Litigation and Memorialization of Enforced
Disappearances drew public attention to a
human rights violation which has for long
years remained untouched despite the
enormous sufferings it has caused.
Those committing the crime,
others hiding the facts, still others
remaining silent
Two reports compiling the findings of
the project, The Unspoken Truth: Enforced
Disappearances and Enforced Disappearances
and the Conduct of the Judiciary were
published in 2013. The first report
identifies the military personnel, village
guards, confessors (former armed
PKK guerillas changing sides after being
arrested) and police force members as the
perpetrators of the forced disappearances.
However it is also underlined that the
responsibility for this crime was shared
by the judiciary which evaded proper
investigation into the incidents and
information disseminating institutions
such as universities, media and NGOs
which remained silent. According to
the report since 1980, 1353 people went
missing under custody by state security
forces and 1994 was the year when the
number was the highest, with Diyarbakr
as the city which suffered most from
enforced disappearance incidents.
A striking conclusion reached in the report
Enforced Disappearances and the Conduct
of the Judiciary was that the investigations
into the 75% of the forced disappearance
cases were left incomplete and only 1%
of them have resulted with punishment.
However Turkey was found guilty in 78%
of the cases referred to the European Court
of Human Rights.
Suggestions by the
Memory Center for enforced
disappearances:
Turkey should sign UN International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance and fulfill its responsibilities
under the Convention.
An independent Truth Commission should be set up by
the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Legal proceedings for enforced disappearance cases
should be conducted in a manner not to give rise to a
statute of limitation.
The impunity enjoyed by the government officials
involved in human rights violations should no
longer be applicable.
No state secret should be an
obstacle to proper completion of
investigations.
 For keepng alve
Hrant Dnks
dreams, struggle,
language
and heart;
for fosterng an
understandng of
cultural dversty
as a source of
rchness, and to
be dfferent as a
rght; and for a
HRANT DNK
hstorography
n Turkey free of
FOUNDATIONS
natonalsm
and racsm PROJECTS
These stories, no matter how they sound per-
sonal, or communal, are in fact stories of the other waiting to
46

47
be heard. They will not serve their purpose until they are heard.
Because word in itself does not constitute a conversation. It is
doomed to be incomplete unless it is heard. Without anyone to
hear them words wander around for a certain time without any
impact, without any capability to reach the collective memory
effectively. Prof. Dr. ARUS YUMUL, Sociologist

Armenians in Turkey: From Silent
Victims to Active Citizens
The root cause of all the hard work,
the meticulous survey and constructive
attempts behind Hrant Dink Foundations
project Armenians in Turkey: From Silent
Victims to Active Citizens dates back to the
Court of Appeals ruling in 1974 where the
minority foundations were considered as
foreigners institutions. Since then minority
foundations are not allowed to buy and sell
properties. Furthermore it was a milestone
in the process whereby the properties
acquired by the foundations after 1936 were
seized by the state one by one, whereas
these properties were the only source of
income for the survival of churches, schools,
cemeteries, orphanages, i.e. the existence of
Armenians as community in Turkey.
We supported the project which identified
the question not as merely a claim for
assets and properties, but the preservation
and sustainability of cultural heritage
as well, with our belief that it would
make an important contribution to the
improvement of democratic rights of the
peoples of Turkey. The sources used in the
project were the archives of Hrant Dink,
Agos newspaper, Lawyer Diran Bakar and
Armenian Foundations in order to address
all the aspects of the issue.
Three workshops were organized to look
into the minority foundations problems
covering both their historical background
and legal implications. A comprehensive
inventory of the seized immovable assets
of Armenian foundations in Istanbul was
produced. The conclusions reached were
compiled in the book: 2012 Declaration:
The Seized Properties of Armenian
Foundations in Istanbul offering an in-
depth analysis of the question.
It is not the story of structures made of stone
or concrete, or of seized buildings that is told in
this book, but the story of human beings, made
of flesh and blood. The institutions mentioned
here were resources created through the
concerted efforts of a people who lived on these
lands young and old, women and men, rich
and poor. The properties subject to wrongdoing
were material assets that provided a vital
life force into temples, schools, orphanages,
retirement homes, aid agencies, and ultimately,
an entire community. They formed the economic
bedrock upon which the social life and culture
of Armenians in Turkey was built. May this
 above: Restoration of
Habap foundations.
From the website of the
Hrant Dink Foundation.
above, right: Restoration
work at Habap
fountains. From the
website of Hrant Dink
Foundation
48
book record the remaining traces of this life
and culture that has been destroyed, providing
responses to questions like why and how; so
that similar injustices do not take place in the
future... From the foreword to the book
In the Stories of Seizure section five cases
of confiscation were elaborated in detail.
These were the eradication of all Kalfayan
institutions during the construction process
of the Bosphorus Bridge; the story of the
Bomonti Mhitaryan Primary School which
continues to provide education from the
building they had once purchased, and
currently occupy as leaseholders; the process
of claiming back a building on Istiklal
Street as an example of the kind of legal
struggle rarely encountered in the Armenian
community; Kasmpaa Surp Hagop
Church Foundation case and the story of
the Andonyan Monastery in Ortaky that
has been abandoned to its fate. Further
details and the book produced as part of the
project can be accessed through the website
www.istanbulermenivakiflari.org.
Habap Fountains Grandchildren
Are Talking Project
Habap, changed to Ekinz in the
Republican period, is the name of the
Heranu Gadaryans village of Kovanclar
district of Elaz (Kharpert in Armenian)
province. Heranu Gadaryan is the
grandmother of Lawyer Fethiye etin,
whose story was told in etins book My
Grandmother: A Memoir. The book
published in 2004 became a phenomenon.
First in Turkey, then across the world it
attracted much attention and created a deep
sensitivity towards a hidden past.
For the restoration of the historical
fountain in the village many young people
came from abroad and from different places
of Turkey to take part in the work and
experienced the fulfilment of solidarity for a
meaningful purpose.
above: Inauguration of
Habap fountains. From
the website of Hrant
Dink Foundation.
above, left: Restoration
of Habap foundations.
From the website of the
Hrant Dink Foundation.
49
left: The daily Milliyet,
27 November 2011,
Hasan Cemal
Everybody should drink
this fountains water. I know
that in this process we were
all healed. It was a process
of healing for the villagers,
for others visiting the village
and for us too. Anybody who
wants to drink a cup of water
for the memory of their dead
should go there. This is a
journey of confronting the
past where everybody will face
his/her fault and the part he/
she played in this crime.
Fethiye etin, Project
Director
 To brng together
young people
COMMUNITY
from across
the country,
contrbute to
VOLUNTEERS
ther becomng
persons respectful
FOUNDATION:
to dfferences and
enable them to
experence lvng
HUMAN RIGHTS
n an envronment
where a human
FRAMEWORK
rghts culture
prevals PROGRAM
18% of Turkeys population lies within the age brack-
et of 15-24, corresponding to 12.5 million people. This is a striking
indication of how big a potential boasts Turkey as a developing
country. Community Volunteers Foundation works hard since
50

51
2002, now in 71 provinces of Turkey, to take part in the efforts
to make full use of this potential, to help the young people raise
their voices, contribute to their empowerment and receiving
support for them. From the book Young People Deserve by
above: Daily Radikal, 28
Community Volunteers Foundation
August 2013, Aya rer

left: TOG Sulukule

Guided by its vision of enabling young
people to lead the efforts for societal peace,
for solidarity and change, the Community
Volunteers Foundation (TOG) has been
working since the first day to transform the
energy of youth into action by means of
activities centered around right-based issues
and a wide variety of other areas of social
interest. It is the biggest NGO working for
young people with its network covering
71 provinces of Turkey, with volunteers
numbering more than 40,000 carrying out
more than 1000 projects. The peer to peer
training model adopted by TOG encourages
young people reach out to and learn from
Seasonal Summer
Project
each other by working together in local and
nationwide projects. In 2013 we, as Open
Society Foundation, have supported the
Human Rights Framework Programme of
TOG. For long years the Foundation has
been carrying out activities like Democracy
and Our Rights, Youth and Social Rights
and Living Library within the scope
the Human Rights Framework Program.
One year long activities, namely Trainers
Training, Seasonal Summer Projects, TOG
Attack and Living Library are part of this
program whereby hundreds of young
people are empowered in human rights
issues, supported to develop local projects
52
TOG Sulukule Seasonal
Summer Project
opposite page: Living
to disseminate the impact and encouraged
Library, Rockn Coke
Festival 2013 to take the initiative to overcome the
challenges they themselves face in their
lives and those they observe in their vicinity.
They thus gain insight into and acquire
comprehensive information in areas vital
to Turkey such as childrens rights, gender
equality, social rights and elimination of
discrimination.
The seasonal summer project conducted
in Hakkari in 2013 is a good example of
how such activities contribute to building
societal peace. During this project 40 TOG
volunteers from west Anatolia, central
Anatolia and Black Sea regions stayed 15
days in Hakkari, visiting homes, workplaces
and coffee houses to get to know the local
53
people, established constructive dialogue
which was a unique experience whereby
both the visiting young people who had
the chance to see Hakkari for the first
time in their lives and those hosting them
went through a process of transformation.
Tayfuns words were an impressive
indication of the life-changing impact of
the project: I made a progress of 30 years
in one day! Hearing him saying this,
hsan lemergi, a writer from Hakkari
smiles: For 90 years we have been taking
that oath [refers to the demand of peace]
everyday. Even rocks would fail to bear this
pressure. Am I right? What do you say? I
mean, one rose doesnt make a spring, but
you are the rose. Tayfun answers: And you
are the gardener.
 For preservng
Sulukule Roma
musc, enablng
Roma young people
to contnue both
ther school
courses and
playng musc,
and keepng the
SULUKULE
memory of the
human rght
YOUTH
volatons n
Sulukule alve ORCHESTRA
It is a must to set up flexible education models and
institutions that create an environment where Roma children
are enabled to express themselves without losing their love and
interest in music, to acquire professional qualifications and to
develop themselves for a secure future. FUNDA ORAL, Project
Coordinator
54

Sulukule Roma Cultural Development and
Solidarity Association works since 2006 to
protect Sulukule inhabitants rights against
the damage done by the urban renovation
project ongoing there, and to encourage a
culture of dialogue that would eliminate
prejudices against Roma. The Association
carries out surveys and publicizes their
impressive findings. After the demolitions
in Sulukule depression became widespread
especially amongst children. 95% of
Roma youngsters in Sulukule drop school
after their secondary education. 70% of
them spend their time in traditional coffee
houses doing nothing and 20% work for
a living for their families in temporary
jobs. With a view to generate a change
in these circumstances the Association
founded jointly with the members of
Sulukule Platform the Sulukule Children
Art Atelier for children aged 7 and above
who are talented and eager to develop their
musical skills.
Believing firmly that discrimination is one
of the most important obstacles to the ideal
of Open Society we willingly supported
Sulukule Youth Orchestra.
The Orchestra, composed of 14 young
people between 14-17 ages, aims at offering
an opportunity of both education and
employment those Roma youngsters who
are unable to receive formal education;
thus preserving the traditional Roma music
while at the same time keeping the name
55
above: Sulukule Youth
Orchestra during a
concert
below: Demolition work
in Sulukule
Sulukule alive the neighborhood which meaningful results of the project was to
offer young Roma people a new course of
was the setting of one of the gravest human
rights violations resulting from urban career which is an alternative to playing at
wedding festivities and alcohol consumed
transformation projects.
restaurants for a meager income. Now
As a moderate amount of monthly salary the Sulukule Youth Orchestra has already
is paid to the Orchestra members on proven their professional quality and well-
condition that they regularly attend developed talent at concerts alongside with
courses and rehearsals, one of the most radio and TV programs.
 left above: Greeks

1964 EXILE
leaving country under
16 March
1964 decree

OF ISTANBUL left below: Another

snapshot from 1964
Greek Exile
To shed lght
on a very lttle
known tragedy of
GREEKS:
the recent past
n Turkey, tell
20 KILOS
the story from
the vewpont of
the exles, and
20 DOLLARS right, from top to
bottom: Which of your
belongings would you

RESEARCH
choose to take with you
contrbute to if you were exiled with
the efforts for a luggage limited to

AND EXHIBITION
20 kilos only? What
confrontng
would you do if you
our past were ordered to leave
your country within 12
hours by taking only
20 kilos of personal
56

Dad was going to make salad for us, and asked
mom to bring the knife. There was no answer. He insisted. Then
mom came from the kitchen crying and said: We left the knife in
Heybeliada. From an interview in Athens
Independent Research Information and
Communication Association (BABIL) asks
the question: What would you do if you
were ordered to leave your country within
12 hours and allowed to take with you only
20 kilos of belongings? The question is an
invitation to the Turkish public to remember
a very little known historical fact - the 1964
Istanbul Greeks exile which constituted one
of the last milestones of the disappearance
of the Greek community of Istanbul.
The date 16 March 1964 is a bitter page of
the history of Turkey which is overlooked,
buried under a thick cover of silence and
very little researched, while in actual fact
constituting the turning point for Istanbul
Greeks lives when thousands of them had
to leave their country.
It was the last stage of the government
policies against Greeks of Asia Minor,
who were turned into a minority in a land
where they lived for centuries as a result
of population exchange in 1922 between
Greece and Turkey, then fell victim to the
Wealth Tax in 1942, and to 6-7 September
pogroms in Istanbul in 1955. This was
the process finalized by the 1964 exile
whereafter the population of Greeks of Asia
Minor has fallen to 2000 today.
57
belongings with you?
50 years ago 13,000
Istanbul Greeks were
ordered to do so. The
1964 exile was not only
for the people but for
Istanbuls past and
future as well. In 1965
nobody brought
Easter cakes, because
nobody was left.
An interviewee from
Kadky whose
neighbors were exiled
The project was named after the supported by our Foundation carried out a
Parliamentary decree issued on 16 March field survey in Istanbul, Athens and Gkeada
1964 in Turkey ordering the Greeks in (Imvroz in Greek) and made interviews with
Istanbul with Greek passports to leave the the people who personally experienced the
country within 12 hours. They were allowed exile. Work at archives resulted in a collection
to take only 20 kilos of belongings and an of records about the legal basis of the state
amount of money equivalent to 20 dollars policy of exile and media coverage which
were displayed in the 20 Kilos 20 Dollars
with them.
exhibition opened on March 2014 at Ttn
BABL, cooperating with the Universal Deposu. The exhibition will then visit Ankara
Federation of Greeks of Istanbul and and Athens as well.
 The projects we, as the Open Socety Foundaton, supported under the Reform topc Turkish Women was conducted in the
between 2009-2013 are not lmted wth what we shared wth our readers so far. We province of Izmir and its close vicinity
SMAL HUMAN
gave support to many more ntatves whch were fully concordant wth the Open with the support of the Ege University BEK RIGHTS IN
Socety deal, amng at comng to terms wth the past, helpng us to look at each Sociology Department, with a view to
others eyes wthout flnchng and havng at ther center the human rghts. draw the demographic profile of Afro-
FOUNDATION: MENTAL
Below are some examples of such projects. Turkish women and gain insight into DIYARBAKIR HEALTH
their problems by listening to them.
ORAL PROJECT Initiative
THE PANEL HISTORY for Human Rights in Mental Health
childrens problem of absenteeism to be a model for other Roma (RUSHIAK) announced its legal
TURKEY at school. School performance of neighborhoods in Turkey.
DISCUSSION PROJECT smail counseling line
ROMA RIGHTS Roma children in Istanbuls Kutepe AND FORUM: Beiki Foundation was set up for project at a meeting

FORUM neighborhood had to be raised, SURVEY ON ALEVIS AND

the purpose of conducting and organized in
publishing scientific, cultural and March 2010. The
their absenteeism rate lowered,
THE SOCIO- SUNNIS
FOUNDED Roma and they should be provided with social studies and project supported
federations and associations came pre-schooling education to prepare DEMOGRAPHIC CONFRONT
giving support by our Foundation
to activities in aimed at providing
together and founded Turkey Roma them for the primary education.
To this end with the support of
CHARACTER- THE 28 these fields. We counseling service to mentally
Rights Forum - ROMFO in November
2012 in Istanbul to be better organized Open Society Foundation and ISTICS OF FEBRUARY
contributed to disabled individuals and their family
the Foundations members, identifying their legal
within a structure that would develop ili Municipality the Kutepe
AFRO-TURKISH POST- 1915 Diyarbakr: needs, and opening, following up
solutions to social, economic and

59
58

cultural difficulties faced by Romani WOMEN Inadequate MODERN

people of Turkey. The vision of
ROMFO is to be a non-governmental
organization totally independent
of political parties and to work for
Romani people in Turkey for enjoying
equal rights with other citizens. More
than 70 Roma association and six
Roma federations joined ROMFO
to carry out activities in areas such
as housing, urban transformation,
discrimination, employment and
education.
KUTEPE
CHILDREN
ETUDE
CENTER
OPENED Istanbul
Roma Florists Association set off
to find a solution to the Roma
Childrens Etude Center was set up
where students from the Sabanc
University and volunteering
teachers helped children with their
mathematics, Turkish, English and
various other classes in addition
to rhythm and music courses.
The Center, also organizing
literacy courses for adults, aims
data and information on Afro-Turks
who have been living in Anatolia
for centuries constitutes the biggest
obstacle to study this group. It is
for this reason that the work carried
out by the Afro-Turkish Culture
and Solidarity Association is of a
pioneering
character. The
Association
started a
demographic
survey in
2011 as a
preparation
for a program
to create awareness of the two-fold
discrimination against Afro-Turkish
women, i.e. discrimination on gender
and color basis, and empower them
in this respect. The Survey on the
Demographic Characteristics of Afro-
MILITARY
COUP Association for
Analyzing and Confronting Social
Incidents organized a panel discussion
and forum on 27 February 2011 for
discussing how to confront with the
National Security Council decisions
dated 28 February 1997 which came to
be known as a post-modern military
coup. In addition to distinguished
opinion makers such as Akn
Birdal, Ali Bayramolu and Mehmet
Bekarolu, representatives of Alevi
community such as Ali Kenanolu,
Cafer Solgun, Ercan Gemez and of
Sunni majority such as Ali Bula, Berat
zipek and Hilal Kaplan participated
the event which was another
pioneering initiative supported by
Open Society Foundation.
Oral History with Kurds project,
which inquired through personal
stories into how the 1915 tragedy was
transmitted from one generation to
another amongst Kurds, particularly
in Diyarbakr, and how it impacted
their daily economic, cultural and
social lives. The Foundations aim is
to publish the findings. The findings
so far indicate that although nearly
100 years have passed since then
the memories about those days were
still fresh and people were willing to
talk about it. The Diyarbakr Oral
History Project once more reminds
us that facing the past honestly
is a precondition for peaceful
coexistence.
and make visible legal cases that
would set a precedent in areas they
face difficulties including education,
housing, employment, treatment,
rehabilitation, guardianship and
receiving disability pension. The
counselors answering the calls refer
the requests to the attorneys taking
part in the project on voluntary basis
and then inform the callers about
the outcome of their inquiries.
THE SURVEY
ON THE
PROCESSES
OF OTHER-
ING IN
TURKEY The survey
conducted by Prof. Dr. Hakan Ylmaz
with the support of the Boazii
 University and our Foundation
aimed at investigating various types
and modes of othering processes
targeting individuals of different
identities. Face to face interviews
were carried out with a sampling
group of 1811 in 18 provinces. The
surveys report published in 2010
gained wide media coverage and
revealed striking facts. 30% to 38%
of the society thinks that they will
receive adverse reactions if they do
not comply with group norms. It
is believed that homosexuals (by
72%), atheists (by 59%), those
who do not adequately fulfil their
religious obligations (by 28%),
and non-Muslims (by 28%) would
not safely disclose their identities.
59% of those who are subjected
60
to repression quail and give up;
and 30% discloses their identity
risking exclusion. We also supported
another research project conducted
by Prof. Dr. Hakan Ylmaz which
involved both field surveys and in
depth interviews aiming to identify
which emotional-symbolic elements
(blood, language and religious ties,
shared historical memory, common
artistic and cultural interests, shared
political symbols) and institutional
political elements (living in the
same environment, being citizens
of the same state, sharing the same
civil society and public sphere,
sharing economic production and
consumption) cause a sense of
affiliation, inclusion and which of
these instigate difference, exclusion
and othering.
BAK:
REVEALING
THE CITY
THROUGH
MEMORY Anatolian
Cultures BAK Project
accomplished with the support of
Open Society Foundation brought
together young people from 4
different cities of Turkey from east
and west. The aim was to lay the
grounds for a cultural cooperation
through a training program and
collective artistic production and
to bring into contact young people
from different cultural backgrounds
through art. It was a step towards
creating alternative ways of
addressing social issues and a new
platform for debate and discussion.
The first meeting of the BAK
project took place in Diyarbakr and
Batman in April 2013. 24 young
people of 18-26 ages from Batman,
Diyarbakr, anakkale and zmir perceived with quite negative
interested in photography and
cinema took part in a program of 5
days involving workshops and events
centered around the themes looking
at the city and memory, as well as
activities with photography and film
production as the subject matter.
Meeting and workshops were also
held in zmir and anakkale in June
2013 and once more in Diyakbakr
and Batman in September 2013. The
photographs and videos produced
in the course of the project will
be displayed in exhibitions to be
organized in Istanbul and other
cities throughout 2014.
WORK FOR
DIALOGUE BY
TESEV AND
GPOT This was a project
developed by the Foreign Policy
Program of The Turkish Economic
and Social Studies Foundation
(TESEV)
with a view
to contribute
to the
normalization of relations between
Turkey and Armenia. One of the
objectives of the project supported
by our Foundation was to organize
a series of meetings and visits
to establish contacts with the
Armenian diaspora which was
not adequately involved in the
rapprochement process between
the two countries and also which
was little known in Turkey. We
believe that a dialogue with the
Armenian diaspora a group
connotations in Turkey - will help a
better understanding of this group,
contribute to democratization
of Turkey and normalization of
relations between Turkey and
Armenia. This conviction was the
basis of our support to another
project prepared by Global Political
Trends Center and conducted under
the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mensur
Akgn involved a round-table
meeting with the representatives of,
experts and policy makers from the
Armenian Diaspora in the USA and
Turkish civil society. The round-table
discussion was a step towards laying
grounds for re-thinking on Turkish-
Armenian relations.
REMEMBER-
ING WITH
PHOTO-
GRAPHY:
PHOTO-
GRAPHY
WORKSHOPS
WITH YOUTH
The project brought to life by
Anatolian Culture involved
photography workshops with
youth in a number of southeastern
provinces of Turkey, namely
rnak, Hakkri, Yksekova,
Mardin - Kzltepe, Batman and
Cizre. Basic photography training
courses were organized for 50
young people between the ages
14-17 to help them acquire skills
for expressing themselves through
creative activities and take part in
constructive socializing processes.
The problems experienced in the
region, traumas and reflections
of life in general terms were
made visible from the viewpoint
of young people through the
blog site set up for this purpose,
exhibitions organized in five cities
which were centered around the
theme remembering and a book
compiling the photographs produced
in this process. The interactive blog
featuring photographs of the project
participants offered an effective
medium of communication.
BOAZ
UNIVERSITY:
RESEARCHES
ON CONSER-
VATISM AND
MIDDLE
CLASSES IN
TURKEY The two
projects, Conservatism in Turkey
and In Search of a Turkish Middle
61
Class: Economic Occupations, Political
Orientations, Social Life-Styles, Moral
Values had been conducted by Prof.
Dr. Hakan Ylmaz from Boazii
University Political Sciences
Department with our Foundations
support. The findings of the first
one had been published in 2006;
and the second one in 2007. In 2012
when the two projects were going
to be renewed with minor changes
in their questionnaires we didnt
hesitate to support this second
phase of the two surveys. In view
of the developments in Turkey in
the past 10 years, the comparative
data obtained by the surveys offer
very interesting indications as to
whether or not public opinion, values
and norms have changed with the
changing political, cultural and social
conditions.

KO
UNIVERSITY:
TURKISH
ELECTION
STUDIES, 2011
The project Turkish Election
Studies, 2011 conducted by Ali
arkolu from the Ko University
with our Foundations support
aimed to collect data in a two-wave
panel survey on voter preferences,
their political awareness and the
impact of the media on voter
behaviors. Media reports within
the period covered by the survey
were collected and coded to be
then matched with the individual
voter profiles collected in the panel
62
survey. The findings of the survey
enabled to identify the demands
and expectations from the new
government formed after the general
elections of June 2011.
SOCIAL
POLICY
FORUM: FREE
LUNCH AT
SCHOOL, 2011
PROJECT Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Ayen Canda and her team from
the Boazii University Social Policy
Forum started a research seeking
an answer to the question: Is it
possible to provide free hot meal
for lunch at public schools? To this
end they examined free school meal
programs implemented in various
countries of the world and saw that
such an aid contributed to students
school performance and was very
helpful for the their psychological
and physical development. The
research report recommends an
applicable school feeding model for
Turkey, taking as basis the free lunch
programs implemented in Chile and
Brazil, the two examples of more
than 100 countries adopting similar
programs and explains in detail in
which districts of Istanbul such a
program can be put into practice if
Istanbul were to be chosen as a pilot
province.
TOHAV: AN
ACTIVE CIVIL
SOCIETY FOR
PREVENTING
TORTURE
Foundation for Society and Legal
Studies (TOHAV) launched this
project
to help
preventing
torture and ill
treatment in
Turkey, thus
contribute to
the democra-
tization of
Turkey and raising the fundamental
freedoms and human rights standards
of the country. Given the need to
create a nationwide cooperation
amongst lawyers, doctors and other
experts working in this field, the
project launched with our support
carried out effective networking
activities to this end.
DTAM: THE
ROLE OF
THE MOTHER
TONGUE IN
HEALTH CARE
SERVICES Tigris
Communal Research Center
(DITAM) carried out a survey to
reveal whether or not the lack of
adequate arrangements for the use
of mother tongue while providing
public health services constituted an
obstacle to
individuals
receiving
proper
treatment
and making
sufficient
use of
diagnostic
processes, therefore whether or not
such shortcoming prevented them
from fully exercising the right to easy
access to health care services. The
report published in Turkish, Kurdish
and English, compiling the findings
of the survey which was based on the
interviews made with physicians and
pharmacists in Diyarbakr. According
to the report 70% of the physicians
believe that health care providers
being able to speak the mother
tongue of the local people would
enhance the publics ability to access
to and increase the effectiveness of
public health care services. Please see
our website for further information
about the survey findings.
IMPR:
PERCEPTION
OF KURDISH
QUESTION
IN TURKEY
BY KURDISH
GROUPS IN
THE MIDDLE
EAST International Middle
East Peace Research Centre undertook
a survey with our Foundations
support on the perception of the
Kurdish question in Turkey by Kurds
living in Iraq, Syria and Iran. Based
on the belief that Turkish publics
enhanced awareness about the subject
would contribute to the success of the
peace process in Turkey, the project
team conducted a field survey in these
three countries. A conference under
the heading
Kurds
Discussing
Peace,
Democracy and Solution Models in
Ankara with the participation of
representatives from Syria, Kurdistan
Regional Government, Iran and
Turkey. The findings of the field
survey will be published in 2014 in
three volumes in English and Turkish.
WHAT ON
EARTH HAVE
I GOT TO DO
WITH OTHERS
RIGHTS? We, as the
Open Society Foundation, consider
that the tendency to claim ones
own rights only, to be indifferent
or in some cases to oppose to the
others rights is one of the major
barriers blocking our way to a better
world and a better life. We wanted to
share our concern in this respect and
produced a humble short film. In our
film we asked the question to what
extent would you defend the rights of
someone who is different from you?
to academics, writers, and politicians
from diverse sections of the society.
Their answers were compiled in our
12 minutes long film named What
on earth have I got to do with others
rights? In addition to well-known
figures in Turkey like hsan Eliak,
Turul Trke, Zeynep Altok, Cemal
Uak, Cafer Solgun, Zafer Arapkirli,
Hseyin Ergun, people whose names
are not known to the public spoke on
behalf of their others. The answers
were very interesting, some of them
raising hopes for a brighter future,
some of them worrisome.
A LONELY
AND WORRIED
COUNTRY:
TURKEY
The survey was conducted on behalf
of the Open Society Foundation by
Dr. Emre Erdoan, Prof. Dr. Gencer
zcan, Prof. Dr. Kenan ayr and
Prof. Dr. Orhan Tekeliolu. The
report, published on October 2013,
compiling
the findings
of the survey
provides
thought-
provoking
data and
conclusions
63
reached
on the
conception
of Turkeys loneliness. Within the
scope of the project Dr. Erdoan
examined the results of the well-
known international surveys such as
the World Values Survey, Pew Global
Attitudes, GMF Transatlantic Trends,
WPON-PIPA, BBC Globescan
and drew conclusions about the
Uneasiness with Foreigners in
Turkey. Prof. Dr. zcan analyzed
the Xenophobia in Turkish
Diplomacy, and Prof. Dr. ayr
examined the discourse of Foreign
Threat in school text books. The
others in popular culture was the
subject Prof. Dr. Tekeliolu dealt with.
A striking finding of the report was
that Turkey ranked the third from
the bottom amongst 24 countries in
terms of trust in international law.
64

65

EUROPEAN UNION
 For a far EU
accesson process
for Turkey, for
the launch of
a democratc
and broad-based
THE
reform program
by the Turksh
government, for
INDEPENDENT
an ntegraton
mutually
COMMISSION
benefcal to
Europe and Turkey ON TURKEY
The Independent Commission remains convinced
of the huge benefits of Turkish convergence with Europe and an ICT Meeting at
eventual EU membership of a transformed Turkey, both for the Presidential Palace
media members and organized a press wide media coverage in both Europe and
country itself and the European Union.
conference in Istanbul to inform the the US.
The impressive progress Turkey has made in all
Turkish public about their report and make
66

fields over the last ten years was clearly linked to the countrys

67
The ICT, making efforts to step up
an assessment of their contacts in Turkey.
EU candidate status and the accession process. Turkeys accession process to EU since its
To ensure a continuation of Turkeys transforma- Meetings in European capitals foundation, had released its first report
tion its European perspective must be preserved. Turkey in Europe: More Than a Promise? in
ICT report, urging European governments
To give Turkey a fair chance, however, is a matter 2004. The report was an outcome of a series
to honor their commitments and treat
of the EUs credibility, of self-interest and of fairness due to all of surveys and contacts in Turkey, and was
Turkey with fairness and Turkey to
candidate countries. From the report Turkey in Europe: Break- presented to the government authorities
encourage its many supporters in Europe
ing the Vicious Circle and the public in major European capitals.
through a dynamic, broad-based reform
The main argument of the report was that
process, was first disclosed in Brussels
accession negotiations should be opened
in September 2009. Following Brussels,
without delay upon fulfilment by Turkey of
It was right after we started continuing our Turkey in Europe: Breaking the Vicious Circle the ICT members, frequently referred
the Copenhagen Criteria.
activities as a national foundation that we published in six languages. Following the to wise men in the Turkish media,
hosted the Independent Commission on publication of the report the Commission presented their Turkey report to the ICT carried on with their intensive efforts for
Turkey (ICT) during their visit to Turkey in members visited Turkey and held contacts public and policy makers during their facilitating Turkeys integration process with
2009. The Commission, which we played in Ankara and Istanbul, meeting the Turkish visits to Stockholm, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Europe in 2010, by means of contacts and
an active part in its foundation, has been President Abdullah Gl, Prime Minister The Hague, London, Madrid, Athens and meetings with key actors of both sides. Our
making contacts and carrying out work to Recep Tayyip Erdoan, Foreign Minister Warsaw. During ICTs Europe tour the contacts provided us with important data
support Turkeys EU accession process for Ahmet Davutolu, the then State Minister report was shared not only with top level for our report we will be preparing next year.
many years. The most impressive product of and Chief EU Negotiator Egemen Ba, state officials such as presidents, prime Our aim is to contribute to the establishment
the Commissions work to help the progress and Deniz Baykal, the then leader of the ministers and foreign ministers but also of more favorable relations between Turkey
of Turkeys EU membership process at a Republican Peoples Party. The Commission with politicians, EU representatives, and the EU, said Martti Ahtisaari, the
time when it appeared to be approaching a also held meetings with NGOs, academics, academics, representatives of NGOs and Chairman of the Commission, at the press
deadlock was the launch of its second report representatives of the business world and press members. Thus the report gained a conference held on 18 September 2010.

68
ICT comments on Gezi Park events
ICT took a constructive initiative to help
manage the possible impact on the Turkey-
EU relations of the mass protests and the
emergence of an environment of violence in
Istanbul during 2013 spring, by presenting a
letter to the European leaders. In the letter ICT
argued that the Gezi incidents should not slow
down the accession process, on the contrary it
should bring a new dynamism to the process.
It was stated in the latter that The incidents
unfolded in the last weeks in Turkey proved
the commitment and vitality of the civil society
in Turkey which is ready to express their
demands for a participative democracy even
under extraordinary difficult conditions. We,
as the Independent Commission on Turkey
members, sincerely believe in the need for the
European Union to improve their relations
with Turkey. This will be in the interests of
both Europe and Turkey.
Preparations for the third report
In the fall of 2013 ICT stepped up its work
for the preparations of its third report
on Turkey which will once more play an
important part in the Turkey-EU relations
taking a fruitful new path. For this reason
the ICT members held critical contacts with
top level bureaucrats and politicians in
Ankara and Istanbul including the President
Abdullah Gl, in addition to meetings
with academics and journalists where the
ICT members were briefed on key issues in
connection with Turkish politics. The report,
drawing attention to the fact that EU and
Turkey, going through difficult times, need
each other more than ever and underlining
the need to revival of relations as soon as
possible, was released in April 2014.
About the Independent Commission on
Turkey
Founded by the joint initiative of Open
Society Foundation and British Council.
Aimed at examining the challenges
and opportunities for Turkeys possible
membership in the European Union
and contributing to a more objective and
rational debate in this connection.
ICT members:
Martti Ahtisaari (Chairman) -Former
President of Finland, 2008 Nobel
Peace Prize Laureate
Kurt Biedenkopf (Until 2011) -Former
Prime Minister of Saxony, Germany
Emma Bonino -Former Minister for
International Trade and European Affairs,
Italy; former Vice-President of the Italian
Senate; Former European Commissioner
Hans van den Broek -Former Foreign
Minister of Netherlands, former
69
European Commissioner
Bronislaw Geremek (Im Memoriam)
-Former Foreign Minister of Poland,
former member of the European
Parliament
Anthony Giddens (until 2011) -Former
Director of the London School of
Economics
Wolfgang Ischinger -Former Secretary
of State, Germany
David Miliband -Former Foreign
Secretary of Great Britain
Marcelino Oreja Aguirre -Former
Foreign Minister of Spain, Former
Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, Former European
Commissioner
Michel Rocard -Former Prime Minister
of France
Albert Rohan (Rapporteur) -Former
Secretary General of Foreign Affairs,
Austria
 Other projects we supported n the area of Turkey - European Unon relatons
THE IMPACT
OF EU ON 100
AREAS OF
OUR DAILY
LIVES We, as the Open
Society Foundation, have been
supporting and following closely the
process of Turkeys full membership
to the European Union, since the
first day we started our activities.
Our publication The Impact of EU on
100 Areas of our Daily Lives answers
70
the question as to what Turkeys
harmonization with EU acquis and
its full membership to the Union
would bring to our lives. Looking at
the actual or potential consequences
of the arrangements Turkey has
made so far or those it will adopt in
the future in relation to different
sectors of social life, the book aimed
at raising the public awareness
about Turkeys accession process. In
view of the widespread interest we
reprinted the publication in 10,000
copies in 2010 in cooperation with
the Secretariat General for European
Union Affairs. This followed by a
third edition printed in more than
200,000 copies and distributed
across Turkey with the collaboration
of EU Ministry of Turkey. The
work is currently being updated by
the expert authorities of the EU
Ministry to be reprinted in 2014 and
distributed country-wide.
THE COST
OF NO EU-
TURKEY
BOOKS Committed to
the belief that Turkey is becoming a
more open society in the process of
harmonization with EU standards,
and in turn the countrys membership
would reinforce EUs open society
values, our Foundation published a
three-volume series of books dealing
with this important topic in 2009,
2010 and 2011 respectively. With
the objective of underlining that a
considerable progress in EU-Turkey
relations and ultimately the countrys
membership to EU would be to both
parties benefit, we compiled in the
books essays by people whom we
respect for their analytical insight and
intellectual candor to articulate their
perspectives on what the cost of no
EU-Turkey would be. The first book
prepared jointly with Michael Lake,
International Relations Secretary
the former EU Ambassador to Turkey,
was released in 2009 under the
heading Cost of No EU-Turkey: Four
Views. The book brought together
essays by Carl Bildt, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Sweden; Norbert
Walter, the Chief Economist of
Deutsche Bank; Paulina Lampsa, the
of PASOK from Greece; and Prof.
Dr. Hakan Ylmaz from the Boazii
University. Our second book Cost
of No EU-Turkey: Two Views released
in 2010 featured essays by Howard
Dean, the Chairman Emeritus of
the Democratic National Committee
and one of the most interesting
voices of the American Democrats;
and evket Pamuk, the then Chair
in Contemporary Turkish Studies in
European Institute of London School
of Economics and Political Science.
The third book of the series Cost of No
EU-Turkey: Five Views was published
in 2011. In this volume we compiled
5 articles by Prof. Peter Balazs,
the former Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Hungary and former EU
Commissioner for Regional Policy;
Krzysztof Bobinski, President of
Unia&Polska Foundation in Warsaw
and former journalist; Prof. Aye
Kadolu from the Sabanc University
and a member of the Group of
Eminent Persons of the Council of
Europe; Philippos Savvides from the
International Center for Hellenic and
Mediterranean Studies in Athens;
and co-writers Shahin Abbasov and
Farid Gahramanov from Azerbaijan.
REFLECTIONS
OF EU-
TURKEY
RELATIONS IN
THE MUSLIM
WORLD We believe
that Turkeys membership to the
European Union bears an intellectual
SERIES ON
meaning going far beyond the topics
of the negotiations between Turkey
and EU.
EU-Turkey relations are not followed
only in Europe and Turkey. The Muslim
world has emerged as an attentive
observer of this evolving relationship.
Arguments, expressed from time to time
by European politicians as well, that
Turkey would not be accepted to the
Union because of its Islamic identity
has become an important subject of
debate in the Muslim world. In our
representatives from all quarters of
publication Reflections of EU-Turkey
Relations in the Muslim World Yousef
Al Sharif of Al Jazeera-Turkey and Samir
Salha of Kocaeli University review the
manner in which EU-Turkey relations
have been assessed in the Arab media,
and Rasul Bakhsh Rais of Lahore
University discusses the debates in
South Asia. Both essays demonstrate
the centrality of the Turkish experience
with the European Union in
determining the verdict by the Muslims
on whether the European modernity
is grand, open-ended, inclusive, non-
denominational and meritocratic, or
whether it is petty, closed, exclusionary,
sectarian and arbitrary. Needless to say,
we all have a huge stake in how that
verdict is shaped.
MEETING
THE CYPRUS
CONFLICT
Heybeliada Talks is an ongoing
initiative since 2008 organized by
the Global Political Trends Center
(GPoT), a think tank committed
to contribute to the solution of
the Cyprus question, which is one
of the major issues waiting to be
settled for the progress of EU-Turkey
relations. GPoT aims at creating
alternative channels of dialogue
between the two communities in
Cyprus as official negotiations
between the governments have
proven to be inadequate for a fruitful
71
debate. Since 2010 our Foundation
has been supporting these
series of talks bringing together
the civil society including experts,
opinion leaders, media members,
academics and businessmen from
both sides of Cyprus, Turkey and
Greece. In 2010 in addition to the
representatives from northern and
southern Cyprus, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoan and the then
Chief EU Negotiator Egemen Ba
participated in the meeting. During
the 12th of the meetings held in
2013 the participants discussed the
current state in the Cyprus question,
the impact of the economic crisis
and the conflict arising from
offshore hydrocarbon exploration
and production operations in the
vicinity of the Island.
72

73

EDUCATION
 For equal rghts
n educaton,
SUPPORTING
n acqurng
professonal
ROMA
sklls and n all
quarters of lfe CHILDREN
FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION above: Visit to the
Ministry of Family and
Social Policies by the
students provided with
scholarship
Discrimination in access to the labor market, educa-
tion system and health system as well as to the housing market left: Demolition in
Sulukule. Photograph:
still prevails. Comparatively high poverty and unemployment
Nejla Osseiran
rates, low school attendance and school completion rates, limited
professional skills, poor housing conditions and consequently
poor health conditions lead to relatively low life expectancy.
74

75
From European Roma Rights Centers Turkey report

Students common
discourse:

I want to change the idea

Due to our commitment to the ideal of an
open society where nobody is excluded on
the basis of his/her being different, where
everybody is offered equal opportunities
as equal citizens and where all exercise the
right to develop himself/herself and to take
part in the social production processes
we, together with Anatolian Culture,
are providing educational support to
socially and economically disadvantaged
Roma youth. Roma comes first among
ethnic groups who are most effected
by social discrimination. Attendance
among Roma children to primary school
is very low primarily because of life-long
discrimination and severe poverty arising
therefrom.
Since the beginning of scholarship to
Roma youth project, around 100 students
benefitted from the program and succeeded
in university entry exams. In 2013 25 of
these students visited the Ministry of
Family and Social Policies, drawing the
Ministers attention to the success rate of
the program and expressing their belief
that extension of the scope of the program
nationwide would increase Roma youths
university entry rates.
The programs impressive success and
its potential to set an example for other
similar initiatives led us to continue with
our partnership with Anatolian Culture
for this project.
21 years old B.K. studying German
Language Teaching department in the
Seluk University, is the only member of
his family attending university. He had
first been unsuccessful at the university
entry exams and now with the support of
the scholarship program he attends private
university preparation courses. Without
this scholarship I wouldnt be able to go
to prep courses, because my family would
not afford it, says B.K. We are eight in
our family and only one of us earn a living.
that Roma children dont
go to school.
Perception of Roma as inferior elements
of the society is very offending. I am very
happy that this project supports our
education. I disclose my identity wherever I
happen to be. That is because I dont want
people speaking poorly about Roma in my
presence. However I am not angry with
those who hide their Roma identity, because
I know that people humiliate them. There
is a widespread view that Roma children
dont go to school. I want to change that
mindset.
 In our vew all ntatves we have supported for equal opportuntes
n educaton so far are equally nvaluable
BILGI
UNIVERSITY:
PREVENTING
DISCRIMINA-
TION IN
EDUCATION The
project Model Teaching Practices
and Key Resources Support
for Education Professionals,
implemented by the Istanbul
Bilgi University, Sociology and
Education Studies Unit with our
76
Foundations support, sought an
answer to the question how the
problem of discrimination can be
dealt with in the classroom? The
project team analyzed discrimination
from educational and sociological
perspectives. Teachers taking part in
workshops and training seminars
were provided fruitful information
as to how
they could
produce
course
materials
that will
facilitate
enhancing
students
awareness about discrimination
and were asked to prepare curricula
addressing this question. 20 texts
were re-written by experts on topics
jointly identified and reviewed by the
teachers. Pilot implementations were
carried out in line with the model
courses which were videotaped.
The book Discrimination Multi-
Dimensional Approaches compiling the
conclusions reached in the course
of the project was published in 2012
and the findings were discussed at a
meeting with wide participation. We
also supported the certificate program
Teachers Workshop: Discussing
Social Issues at Classroom to
contribute to the efforts for the
implementation of the findings of the
project and for enabling social issues
to be discussed in an educational
environment. The project book can
be accessed through our website,
by clicking the publications we
support tab.
PROJECTS
FOR
IMPROVING
LIVING
CONDITIONS
OF THE
DISABLED
Awareness Meetings for Primary
School Students organized by the
Disabled People Foundation
The Disabled People Foundation,
building on the fact that primary
school children between 7-12 ages
enjoy a quick and easy learning
capacity, prepared education modules
to enhance their awareness about
disability and help them gain an
insight into the living conditions and
needs of people having disabilities
of different kinds. Experts in this
field such as psychologists, teachers
for special-needs students, and
child development specialists gave
seminars on various aspects of
disability with the participation
of 4000 primary school students.
During the project covering the
period between May 2011 and June
2012, the activities were focused on
bringing about a change in childrens
behavior towards individuals
different from them by means of
drama and playing games. The
participants were also distributed a
set of interactive books for children
specially prepared by the experts
specialized in this area.
Work by the Platform to Prevent
and Fight Discrimination
against the Disabled
Despite favorable developments in
recent years as regards prevention of
discrimination against the disabled
and raising public awareness in this
respect the continuation of their
adverse conditions constitute one of
the most important barriers blocking
their participation in social life.
Guided by this fact the Platform to
Prevent and Fight Discrimination
and supported by our Foundation
aimed at reinforcing teachers roles
against the Disabled has been
working since 2011 to generate a
process of change in this area and
we are happy to support them since
then. The platform aims to increase
the capacities of a minimum of 20
associations working in the field of
disability from different regions of
Turkey in fighting discrimination
against the disabled (by supporting
them in areas such as litigation
and raising public awareness),
increase the effectiveness of NGOs
working in the field of disabilities
and/or discrimination and helping
them in acquiring experience in
implementation of projects. The
Platform sets itself the target of
filing 100 formal applications with
government authorities and have
5 parliamentary questions raised
in the Turkish Grand National
Assembly in disability-related issues.
HELSINKI
CITIZENS
ASSEMBLY:
TEACHERS
FOR DEMOC-
RATIZATION
AND PEACE
BUILDING The
seminar program developed by the
Helsinki Citizens Assembly (HcA)
diversity and depth of traumas
experienced in Turkeys history, an
in managing conflicts and building expert team from Istanbul Bilgi
a peaceful environment in the University Psychology Department
classroom and at school. started the Trauma Studies
Certificate Program in cooperation
The four main
topics of the
with the International Trauma
Studies Program in New York,
program based on
a holistic approach
active since 1997, and with our
to the question Foundations support. The objective
of the clinically-oriented and
were: i) Main
determinants and interdisciplinary certificate program
orientations in was to provide support to mental
health and other professionals who
the education system in Caucasian
countries and Turkey; ii) Managing work or who wish to work with trauma
survivors. The program covering a
challenges in discussing peace,
period of 10 months and initiated by
democracy and citizenship in the
Assoc. Prof. Murat Paker is designed
classroom; iii) New pedagogical and
for two different groups; mental
communication skills; iv) New tactics,
health clinicians (psychologists,
clues, sources of inspiration and
psychiatrists, counseling
77
best examples for teachers to become
psychologists, psychiatric nurses,
actors of peace building. Apart from
social worker and psychotherapists
this initiative we also supported HcAs
etc.) and non-clinical professionals
region-wide project Cross-Border
(lawyers, journalists, NGO workers
Citizens Network for Peace, Inter-
etc.) on the basis of two interrelated
Communal Reconciliation & Human
modules that contain the most
Security, for promoting societal peace,
reconciliation and good governance developed knowledge in the field of
by means of local, regional, national psychotraumatology. As is the case
with the first and second years of the
and intercommunal/sectoral dialogue.
program, we will continue supporting
BILGI this very important initiative where
UNIVERSITY: geographical distribution is taken into
account in accepting the applicants.
INTER-
NATIONAL DEBATE
TRAUMA TRAINING FOR
STUDIES HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS The
CERTIFICATE Debate Association, the Turkish
PROGRAM Taking partner and youngest member of
into consideration the continuity, the International Debate Education
 Association founded in 2009 to
conduct activities for promoting
debate training and developing a
debate culture where mutual respect
for each others views is promoted,
took a pioneering step, in fact a first
in Turkey, in the year 2010. Receiving
our support since its inception, the
Association makes efforts to develop
methods suitable to Turkeys local
conditions to set up debate training
programs and to use debate as an
educational means for creating an
environment of societal dialogue.
They first prepared a debate training
module to form the basis of the
training programs for primarily high-
school students and future trainers.
This was followed by the publication
of a debate training book for use as
a source in the subject trainings. The
78
Association implemented its program
at 20 high schools in 10 provinces
with the help of volunteering trainers.
NESN
MATHEMATICS
VILLAGE - SALT: INTER-
2010-2011 PRETATION
SUMMER PROGRAM The
Interpretation Program launched
SEASON Nesin by SALT, a non-profit cultural
Mathematics Village, founded
and run since 1998 by the world
renowned mathematics professor Ali
Nesin, hosts every year hundreds of
disadvantaged high school students
and provide them with private
intensive mathematics courses in
three-week periods. The objectives
of setting up a mathematics village
were diverse: to develop mathematical
thinking capacity of high school
students, trigger their curiosity
about mathematics, to give them a
sense of abstract thinking, to help
them absorb the concept of proof
and to enable students coming
from very different parts of Anatolia
to receive training from worlds
renowned lecturers. In addition
to these academic objectives the
village aims to show to students
that a different approach, a different
manner of learning and a different
kind of human relations are possible
in an environment free of punitive
authority and fear, an environment
where mutual trust and respect
prevail. Our foundation enabled
hundreds of disadvantaged high
school students to attend the courses
free of charge in the summer of 2011.
institution, aimed to establish a
framework for more sustainable,
mutually valuable relations between
cultural institutions and Istanbuls
public schools. Within the framework
of the program, implemented in
2011-2012 school year with our
Foundations support, more than
1500 students were provided with
free bus services to and from SALT
Beyolu and SALT Galata for
taking part in workshops organized
by artists, cultural producers or
specialists in fields related with
SALTs current projects. In addition
SALT Interpretation Packs, in other
words online curriculum guides, were
prepared for teachers and students,
containing discussion topics,
activities and educational resources
to accompany each exhibition.
FROM THE
WHITE
SCREEN
TO THE
BLACKBOARD
MEDIA
The project accomplished in 2012 by
Zonguldak Association for Educational
79
Support, involved creation of an
interactive website which will
function as a movie library for
the teachers,
containing the list
of films that could
be used in formal
education, and
also providing
them with
the necessary
guidelines. The aim of the project was
to make best use of the visual language
and multi-layered structure of cinema
for encouraging teachers to take more
interest in this branch of art and
also enable the students to watch
classical films with their teachers.
The project also provided a platform
for discussing and interpreting films in
addition to organizing a series of film
screenings bringing teachers and
students together.
 this purpose and shared the conclusions issues. The press sector is undoubtedly
FREEDOM OF with the international press in 2012. demonstrating strong dynamism, in
particular thanks to an extremely active

EXPRESSION
Carnegie Europes research was directed
civil society and courageous journalists.
by Marcus Mayr and Marc Pierini, the
This evolution appears to be irreversible.
former EU Ambassador to Turkey, who

AND FREEDOM
Secondly, serious preparatory work in
was afterwards invited to Carnegie
the Ministry of Justice on legislative
Europe as a visiting scholar with our
reforms has been ongoing for some time.

OF PRESS: Foundations support, thus having the

opportunity to share his insightful
knowledge and experience about Turkey.
It is, however, unclear if and when these
proposals will be put into practice.

CENTER FOR The comprehensive findings of the research

were compiled in the report Press Freedom
The report proved its scientific value
and objectivity by winning the 2013

For a country
AMERICAN in Turkey.

Two favorable comments from the Press

International Publication of the Year Award,
a category of the yearly awards organized

PROGRESS
fully ntegrated by the Prospect Magazine, a prominent
Freedom in Turkey report are as follows:
wth the world; monthly periodical in the Great Britain.
First, today more subjects are debated
enjoyng greater
democracy and
pluralsm;
AND CARNEGIE and there are fewer taboos than ever
before, from the Armenian to the Kurdish
Press Freedom in Turkey report was launched
at a meeting our Foundation held jointly

EUROPE REPORTS
80

and rcher wth

81
dverse outlooks
Warnings in the
report:
Turkey is a member of NATO and the Council of a) Press freedom and personal freedoms
Europe and is negotiating its accession to the European Union. are restricted on grounds of terrorism in Turkey.
As a country anchored in the West, and no matter what political Struggle against terrorism should not be an excuse
orientation it takes, Turkey should do better on press freedom for restrictions on the press.
with all that impliesand ensure that democratic principles and b) There is more pressure on journalists today than there
was five or ten years ago. The mere fact that the debate on
standards are upheld. From Carnegie Europes Press Freedom
tough issues is only fed by a courageous few is not healthy for
in Turkey
Turkish society as a whole: it means that debate is fast becoming
a marginal phenomenon and that mainstream Turkey is less
pluralistic.
c) The violations of press freedom have become a stain
on Turkeys democratic credentials. Plain denial of these
shortcomings by the government does not lead anywhere; it
Two of our important undertakings in Carnegie Europe Report on the Press only adds to the embarrassing situation in which the state
2012 in line with our vision of contributing Freedom in Turkey already finds itself.
Turkeys becoming a more open society, were d) Turkey loses credibility and trustworthiness,
Carnegie Europe, the Europe branch of
our support to the studies carried out on which in turn affects economy adversely
the Carnegie Endowment, and the Center by slowing down foreign direct
press and expression freedom in Turkey by for American Progress (CAP) from the US investments.
two reputable think tanks, one from Europe conducted researches in Turkey on freedom
and the other from the USA. of press and expression, made contacts for

82
Carnegie Europe
report launch,
Brussels
with Carnegie Europe in Brussels in January
2013. A panel discussion was also organized
as part of the event where representatives
from EU Commission and European
Parliament members as well as outstanding
opinion makers from Turkey took part. At
the panel discussion moderated by Sinan
lgen from Carnegie Europe, Marc Pierini
and Marietje Schaake, a member of the
European Parliament were the discussants.
Center for American
Progress report launch,
Washington DC
Center for American Progress (CAP)
carried out a survey on recent developments
in Turkey in the area of freedom of press and
freedom of expression and organized a series
of meetings as well as face to face contacts
with press members from different media
institutions and with different political
views. The individuals contacted included
journalists, editors and experts in various
fields in connection with the subject matter.
Furthermore meetings were also held with
working groups. Aiming to broaden the
discussion and improve understanding
of the issue with the participation of
international actors, the survey analyzed
the press freedom in Turkey from the
viewpoint of its political context, historical
background and strategic concerns.
83
The report released by CAP offering the
findings of the survey, contains a number
of important topics such as Kurdish
question, the tension between the AKP
government and those firmly committed
to Kemalist secularism, ownership of
media groups, Turkeys role in the Middle
East, more subtle and less visible forms of
censorship and journalists in prison. The
conclusion section of the report underlines
the central importance of press freedom
to the entrenchment of democratic norms
in Turkey and calls NGOs to help monitor
the situation and support independent
journalism.
The report was launched in January 2013
at a meeting in Washington with the
participation of press members from Turkey.
 WORKS AGAINST
HATE CRIMES
HATE CRIMES IN
For rasng
awareness about
NATIONAL PRESS:
hate crmes and
creatng a frm
10 YEARS,
publc opnon
aganst them 10 EXAMPLES
Any criminal offence, including offences against
persons or property, where the victim, premises, or target of
the offence are selected because of their real or perceived con-
nection, attachment, affiliation, support, or membership with a
84

85
group based upon a characteristic common to its members, such
as real or perceived race, national or ethnic origin, language, co-
lour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orien-
tation, or other similar factor, is a hate crime. OSCE, 2006 Hate
Crimes Report

Struggle against hate crimes, one of the
most effective conveyor and disseminator
of racism which has inflicted deep injuries
in the human history, has become vital
in building societal peace today. However
the hate crime was a concept not well-
known in Turkey, not defined clearly in
legislation and not an agenda item in the
national press. The first comprehensive
activity of the Association for Social Change
founded in 2009 by a group of human
rights activists and with the support of
Open Society Foundation, was a pioneering
initiative that focused on how to wage an
effective struggle against hate crimes.
national characteristics, religion and
The preparatory work included meetings
with the experts specialized on hate crimes,
workshops and trainings given to the
association members.
This was followed by the scanning of
internet archives of Turkeys 20 national
newspapers covering the period 1998-
2008. The criteria taken as basis for this
study were ethnic/racial affiliation, gender,
The headline of the November 17, 2009
beliefs, political tendencies and convictions,
education, personal or communal status,
disability, sexual orientation and ownership.
The report Hate Crimes in National Press: 10
Years, 10 Examples was the main output of
this project.
Here are some examples from the book
10 Years, 10 Examples:
issue of the daily Yenia was Armenians
Go Rabid with a subheadline Bitchy
attack by Armenians. The actual press
report is about an armed clash on the

86
Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Both the
headline and the subheadline connote not
the government of a country but the people
living in a country and constitute an insult.
A Bastardliness Typical of Michon was
the front page headline of the daily Vakit
dated August 24, 2007. Michon (in
Turkish Mion) is a common derogatory
word, in fact a name, symbolizing Jews
in Turkey. The story is about the Jewish
lobby allegedly working in the US for the
recognition of the Armenian genocide. The
wording of the heading generalizes the
left: the daily Trkiye, alleged viciousness of the assumed activity
30 April 2006 to cover a whole ethnic/religious group and
right: the daily Yenia, constitutes an insult towards Jews.
17 November 2009
Poison courier Transvestite caught at
the airport. This headline is from the
daily Trkiye, dated April 30, 2006. The
news item is about an attempt to bring
the daily Sabah,
2 November 1999
87
narcotics into Turkey. Although there is no
connection between the crime itself and
the sexual orientation of the suspect, her
identity as a transvestite was emphasized in
such a way that the subject crime can easily
be identified with the group as a whole.
One of the most important chapters
of the report is the one containing the
recommendations for all parties involved in
this question: readers, media institutions
and members, NGOs, government, law-
makers and executors, public authorities,
political parties and politicians.
Throughout the work for this project the
Association for Social Change established
contacts with NGOs carrying out activities
in this area in different provinces of Turkey
for the purpose of creating a civil network
to wage a more efficient struggle against
hate crimes.
 88

89

GENDER STUDIES
 KAMER, There is No
Rightful Violence
To rase awareness
meeting, Diyarbakr
about womens
human rghts,
awareness aganst
gender-based
KAMER:
dscrmnaton
and volence; to
develop a common
TO WORK
language and
atttude as well as
FOR WOMEN,
the ablty
to share feelngs WITH WOMEN
I got to know KAMER in 2006 thanks to a group
workshop they organized in our province as part of An Oppor-
tunity for Every Woman Project and I was fascinated. I came to
realize that I had not been a woman until then. OK, I was married
with two beautiful daughters. But I had not been a woman. My Women who experienced
90

sexist frame of mind and taboos had been so oppressive that I

91
most bitterly all the
had forgotten my womanhood. Now I can say that I am a woman. unfavorable consequences
I have rights and I am struggling to protect them. I am hopeful of the hegemonic system
about the future of my daughters. They are growing up with KA- worldwide undertook the
MER and they have already started questioning. From KAMERs leading role for bringing
book We Can Stop This about change for not
only themselves and their
immediate vicinity but also
for the society. Carrying out
activities in Eastern and
Southeastern Turkey since
1997 KAMER has developed
a working method for
An Opportunity for Every Women for Every Woman was one of KAMERs Achievements of An Opportunity for up the applications filed for 522 generating awareness about
Project projects we valued most and have been Every Woman Project instances of violence and 35 honor firmly established gender
supporting since 2005. killings, and 700 small workshops. roles and the violence and
The KAMER Foundation opened a The Project reached 23,968 women discrimination which is an
In the first four years of the project KAMER through Womens Centers set up in All these efforts saved 213 women outcome of such roles. With
new era in womens movement in
founded Womens Centers in 23 provinces 23 provinces working for womens from falling victim to honor the constructive support of
Turkey with its activities in Eastern and
in East and Southeast Turkey. In the second killings and hundreds of women Open Society Foundation we
Southeastern Anatolia since 1997 for human rights and also awareness
phase KAMER focused on translating to life from domestic violence. managed to build a grassroots
promoting awareness against gender-based raising workshops organized in 150 movement by making use of
the experience they acquired in Diyarbakr
discrimination and violence as well as districts. Women Get Together Project this creative method.
and its vicinities in other parts of Turkey
advocacy and lobbying for development of for a more effective fight against violence The activities involved 5,450 home KAMER, gaining much reputability both at Nebahat Akko, KAMER
policies for this purpose. An opportunity targeting women. visits, 500 meetings, following home and abroad with its activities against Foundation Chair
 KAMER, fieldwork
92
The United Nations
Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence
against Women makes
clear that violence against
women is a manifestation of
historically unequal power
relations between men and
women. That is to say, a
mans murder of a woman
for honor, jealousy, and historical backgrounds, enable the
or whatever reason is a
manifestation of mens
historical power over women.
Therefore, mens claims that
they have committed such
murders due to reasons such
as jealousy or honor
do not make these murders
psychological or cultural develop new methods in building grassroots
incidents. These murders are
political in the full sense of
the term.
From the KAMER book
We Can Stop This
violence, discrimination and womens
human rights, launched another project to
bring together women from East and West
Turkey around the common denominator of
womanhood.
We, as the Open Society Foundation, share
KAMERs conviction that womens getting
in touch with each other and conducting
joint activities would make a significant
contribution to societal peace. Furthermore,
greatly valuing all efforts to put an end
to violence and discrimination against
women, we were happy and proud to give
our support to KAMERs broad-based
new initiative, Women Get Together
Project. The aim was to empower groups of
women with different geographical, cultural
to cover five new provinces in addition to
establishment of womens organizations
to work against all kinds of discrimination
and violence, starting from those against
women and to help women contribute to the
democratization of Turkey.
In the first year of the project working
groups were established to seek ways to
organizations in Hatay, Mara, Trabzon,
Manisa, Edirne and Tekirda in addition
to the 23 provinces KAMER had already
organized. Facilitators from KAMER paid
regular visits to these provinces and each of
these women groups of different cities were
matched with one of the KAMER branches
in the Southeast and East Turkey to build
platforms for joint activities. As a result
women from 32 provinces came together to
discuss non-violence, non-discrimination,
transparency, inclusion, militarism and
conscientious objection. The Projects final
meeting in Diyarbakr in November 2011
was a first with the participation of 300
women from 32 provinces under theme
There is no Rightful Violence.
In 2012, the second year of the Project, four
more provinces were added to the first years
9 new provinces. Seeing that the womens
responsiveness was beyond expectations
KAMER extended the scope of the project
the second years four provinces, bringing
the total number of project provinces to 18.
As a result awareness groups were set up
comprising a total of 341 women in Trabzon,
Manisa, Tekirda, Edirne, Eskiehir,
Istanbul, Adana, Hatay, Mara, Mula,
the participants joined a demonstration
Bodrum, Marmaris, Aydn, Artvin, Rize,
Afyon, Izmir and Bandrma.
During this period on top of all
achievements new women centers were
founded in eight provinces and work is
under way to open new ones in three others.
In addition four women centers affiliated
KAMER, early childhood
work
to municipalities were opened, four new
associations were founded and preparations
are going on for the establishment of two
more associations and one cooperative.
The Projects second year activities were
finalized at the Istanbul meeting where
more than 200 women from 41 provinces
took part. Apart from a whole day meeting
against violence.
The project activities continued in 2013
as well. The works in 18 provinces were
deepened and the awareness working
group meetings became regular gatherings
in addition to the extension of the project
A story of an applicant
to KAMERs Emergency
Help Hot Line:
She was 24, graduate of high school.
The family decided to put her to death
when she objected to the familys choice
and attempted to marry to the man she loved.
KAMER helped her to get an attorney and
placed her in a womens shelter. Support
93
was given to her to leave the country. She
married abroad the man she loved. Now
she continues with her education
and will live in the country
she has settled.
scope to cover three new provinces, namely
Nevehir, Krehir and Sivas.
One of the most impressive achievements of
these meetings was womens getting together
to develop solutions to their common
problems on the basis of womanhood
as their common denominator, regardless
of their ethnic, religious, linguistic
backgrounds. Thus throughout the whole
process Kurdish, Turkish, Azeri, Terekeme,
Sunni, Roma, Arabian, Alevi, Dada, Greek,
Armenian women overcame all prejudices
and the objective of bringing women of
different origins together for a world free of
violence was realized.
 To famlarze
audence wth
womens flms to
a greater extent,
11. INTERNATIONAL
brng together
women flm makers
FILMMOR
from Turkey and
from the world,
and contrbute
WOMENS
to an ncrease n
womens ndvdual
FILM FESTIVAL
and jont
productons ON WHEELS
We dont have a ready-made definition of what
we call womens film. While making a selection of films we first
pay attention that the film is not an anti-feminist production. Of
course we choose films which are definitely not racist, discrimi-
natory, homophobic, ethnocentric, and so on. Its obvious that we
94

dont expect a woman to be free of all stereotypes just because

95
she is a woman. I can only guarantee that in this festival there
will be no film where women are depicted on the basis of gender
stereotypes, where a woman is not represented as a subject with
a character of her own, where women are overlooked, and more
than anything, where misogynist elements are present. MELEK
ZMAN, Project Coordinator
Filmmor aims to:
Enhance womens capabilities and
possibilities to participate in the art of cinema,
Founded in 2003, Filmmor Womens to be a very colorful experience with a wide cultural and social life, their visibility and their
Cooperative aims at producing films by variety of events and activities. Featuring ability to express themselves;
and for women; increasing the presence films under various themes, after Istanbul Promote festivals accessible to women in areas other
of women in cinema and the media; the festival visited Bitlis in partnership than metropols, enhance such festivals effectiveness and
improving womens opportunities to with Mizgin Womens Association, Sinop ensure their sustainability;
express themselves, and boosting non- Contribute to the creation of an environment enabling
in cooperation with Sinop Womens
better participation of women in cinema and other areas;
sexist representations and experiences of Platform and Izmir with the support of
and
women. Filmmor has been organizing right Izmir Womens Solidarity Association. Bringing women from Turkey in contact
from the start cinema workshops, womens During the festival film reading workshops, with women from other countries and their
films festivals, exhibitions, conferences and workshops with women directors on film productions and contribute to greater
film screenings. production, talks with directors from visibility of women film makers from
Turkey on international scale.
Organized in 2013 with the support of our Turkey and from abroad and a panel
Foundation the 11. International Filmmor discussion with the topic Our Bodies
Womens Film Festival on Wheels proved are Ours were also organized.
96

97
 Attachng specal mportance to womens human rghts, gender equalty n socal lfe,
and rasng awareness on volence aganst women, Open Socety Foundaton, supported
many other projects under ths topc n the perod 2009-2013. Below are some of these
projects whch we were happy to gve our support.
DITAM:
SURVEY
ON SOCIAL
DYNAMICS
OF EARLY
MARRIAGES The
project covering the year 2014 as
well is being carried out jointly
by Tigris Communal Research
98
Center (DITAM) and KAMER to
analyze a number of dynamics
playing part in the question of
the child brides in Turkey. The
problem is no more peculiar to
the rural areas of the country, but
became an issue in cities as well
with the increase in domestic and
overseas migration and accelerating
urbanization. What are the factors
that give social legitimacy to early
marriages? What are the arguments
of women making early marriages
and of those involved in the process,
such as the elder family members,
religious leaders, opinion makers?
What kinds of meanings are
attributed to such marriages? In
what ways the women making early
marriages express their experiences
and views in this respect? The
survey will seek answering these
and similar questions through
in depth interviews with women
marrying under 18 and the decision
makers actively taking part in these
marriages in the rural areas of
Diyarbakr, Urfa and Siirt. The data
collected from the interviews will be
used in analyzing cultural, religious, photographers working on themes
economic and family factors that give closely connected to social policies
social legitimacy to early marriages. such as state violence, memory,
and sexuality; some of them being
SEMIHA influential activists in their respective
ES- WOMEN countries. The symposium served as a
setting of not only vibrant discussions
PHOTO- about the world of photography
GRAPHERS but also hosted an exhibition of
30 photographs from Semiha Es
INTER- personal archives. An event organized
in parallel to the symposium was
NATIONAL the exhibition Second Eye: Women
99
SYMPOSIUM The Photographers from Turkey that
symposium was organized on 28 took place in Sismanoglio Megaro,
and 29 November 2013 jointly by the exhibition hall of the Consulate
General of Greece, which attracted
nearly 1000 visitors.
three reputable organizations and
supported by our Foundation in
the memory of Turkeys first woman
travel and war photographer Semiha
Es (1912-2012). The partners of the
project were Ko University Center
for Gender Studies (KOKAM),
Womens Museum Istanbul and
Sabanc University Gender and
Women Studies Forum. The aim
was to make visible and critically
evaluate the contributions of women
photographers in the 21st century.
The speakers in the symposium were
 100

101

LGBT STUDIES
 LAMBDA
above: LSTAG family
group

in between: Poster of

EXTENDS ITS
the film My Child

below: A snapshot from

LSTAG Adana meeting
To support LGBT
ndvduals
SUPPORT TO
comng out to
ther famles, help
parents deal wth
FAMILIES WITH
ths fact, and to
extend the famly
LGBT CHILDREN
support work
beyond Istanbul: ACROSS TURKEY
A comment on the
documentary My Child
Knowledge is power. Listen to your beloved ones
and educate yourselves. The more you are informed of the sto- A straightforward
ries and experiences of persons with different sexual orientations and sincere story of the
most powerful, most
102

and those choosing gender transformation, the more you can

be helpful and give your love and support to the one you love
to lead a healthy life. From the book I am the mother of a
transvestite
The most common feeling amongst those
seeking help from LGBT organizations was
fear; the fear that a disaster would happen if
their families would learn the truth. What
if my mother has a heart attack? What if my
father kicks me out, or worse than that, if he
kills me? are only a few subjects of anxiety
they have to deal with.
LSTAG (The Lambdaistanbul Family
Group), which was first organized within
Lambdaistanbul, and then continued
their work independently, was founded
by the families of LGBT individuals for
the purpose of helping their children to
overcome their fears, and to come out to
their families; and to support the families in
approaching the question in a constructive
and embracing manner.
When LSTAG, in response to the
requests they received, decided to reach
out to places other than big cities such
as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir we, as the
Open Society Foundation, didnt hesitate
to support them.
The working group organized meetings
in 2010 in Eskiehir and Diyarbakr in
cooperation with local organizations
for the families who learned that
their children or brothers/sisters were
homosexual, bisexual, transvestite or
transsexual. Psychiatrists from Association
of Sexual Education, Rehabilitation and
Research (CETAD) also attended these
meetings where panel discussions and film
screenings took place as well.
The documentary My Child was a
milestone in the LSTAGs history of selfless
work which we are happy to support since
the foundation of the organization. The
film featuring the stories of five mothers
and two fathers, all LSTAG volunteers,
was screened in 18 provinces, namely
Adana, Afyon, Antakya, Antalya, Antep,
Balkesir, Bursa, anakkale, Denizli, Edirne,
103
uncompromising resistance
against homophobia and
transphobia.
!f International
Independent Film Festival
Kocaeli, Sakarya, Mersin, Mula, Samsun,
Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak and in two
new provinces work has started to set
up new LSTAG groups. The full-length
documentary My Child asks families the
question: what would you do if you learn
that your child is a homosexual, bisexual,
transvestite or transsexual?
 We, as the Open Socety Foundaton, contrbuted to other projects
wthn ths category durng the fve years covered by our report.
PEMBE
HAYAT
(PINK LIFE)
ADVOCACY
AND
STRATEGIC
LITIGATION
PROJECT Pembe
Hayat LGBTT Solidarity Association,
which is amongst the organizations
enjoying our support in this field,
104
developed an important project
named Strategic Litigation in
Connection with Violence and
Use of the Law of Misdemeanor
against Trans
Individuals.
The project
aimed to
provide
attorneys to
represent the trans individuals at the
court, raise public awareness about
their problems and carry out a one-
year work of monitoring, reporting,
strategic litigation and advocacy
in support of them. The work will
document violation of rights of trans
people, open legal cases against
fines charged under the Law of
Misdemeanor and carry out strategic
litigation on behalf of trans people
falling victim to violence by the
police and gangs.
STRENGTH-
ENING
MECHANISMS
OF ACCESS
TO JUSTICE
FOR LGBT
PEOPLE LGBT people,
who suffer from discrimination and
exclusion in every quarter of life,
cant escape from discrimination
even during the judicial processes
when they go to court. With this
bitter fact in mind the Social
Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual
Orientation Studies Association
(SPoD) started a project with
our Foundations support for
Strengthening Mechanisms of
Access to Justice for LGBT People
in Turkey. Within the framework
of the project a series of training
courses were organized to help
increase the number of lawyers who
are well-informed and experienced
in this area. The aim was to
consider LGBT rights as part of
human rights and developing legal
defense methods. Lawyers from
Ankara, zmir, Batman, Diyarbakr,
Denizli, Eskiehir, Bursa, Gaziantep,
stanbul and Northern Cyprus
took part in the training courses
given under a large variety of topics
including National Legislation and
public authorities.
Implementation, Lawyer-Client LGBT RIGHTS
Relations, Phases in Gender
Transformation and Labor Law,
and Introduction to Human
Rights Law.
KAOS GL:
DISSEMINA-
TION IN
TURKEY OF
STANDARDS
ON
COMBATING
DISCRIMINA-
TION ON
GROUNDS
OF SEXUAL
ORIENTATION
AND GENDER
IDENTITY Kaos Gay
and Lesbian Cultural Research and
Solidarity Association (Kaos GL),
with our Foundations support
initiated this project whereby two
very important and updated books,
the UN book Born Free and Equal and
the Council of Europes document
Combating Discrimination on Grounds
of Sexual Orientation and Gender
Identity were translated into Turkish
and distributed to every section of
the society, first and foremost to the
out for developing LGBT peoples
SPOD:
BRINGING
the political parties and setting
PERSPECTIVE
INTO LOCAL
POLITICS IN
TURKEY This project
proposed by the Social Policies,
Gender Identity and Sexual
Orientation Studies Association
(SPoD) was another initiative
we supported to bring to the
public attention LGBT peoples
expectations and demands from
local governments. Within the
framework of the project SPoD
carried out field work during the
local elections in March 2014 to
monitor the local governments
works and to help them acquire a
LGBT rights perspective. During
the project work will be carried
capacity to raise their demands from
the local authorities, strengthening
the communication between
LGBT rights organizations and
examples of best practices in places
where parties sensitive to LGBT
rights come to power on local basis.
A School of Local Government
Politics will be founded where LGBT
individuals will be equipped with
knowledge about participation in
local decision making bodies such
as city councils and municipal
councils to support those who aspire
to take part in active politics. We
believe that the experience and
achievements gained from this
project conducted in Istanbul,
Ankara, Izmir and Diyarbakr will
contribute to a change not only in
LGBT individuals relations with the
local governments but also in the
political culture of Turkey.
WE ALSO
SUPPORTED;
4th, 5th, and 6th, International
Homophobia Meetings
organized by Kaos Gay and
Lesbian Cultural Research and
Solidarity Association (Kaos
GL) since 2006;
The field study by Hebn, an
organization bringing together
LGBT people
in Diyarbakr,
working for
identifying
problems
experienced by
LGBT people
in Diyarbakr
and other
105
nearby provinces, looking for
possible solutions, enhancing
their capacity to defend their
rights, and strengthening their
capabilities to get organized;
The project Who are we?
Truths About Sex Workers by
Red Umbrella Sexual Health and
Human Rights Association, an
organization working on issues
related to trans sexual workers;
and the publication of Sex
Workers: Myths and Realities
within the scope of the project.
3rd and 4th of the Day of
Struggle against Hate Crimes
organized in Izmir in the
memory of the journalist Baki
Koar who had fallen victim to
a hate crime in 2010, by Black
Pink Triangle Izmir LGBTT
Association.
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107

CIVIL SOCIETY
 Below are the projects we supported under the Cvl Socety category to render
socal dynamcs effectve, strengthen mechansms for cvl socetys supervson
over government processes and ncrease ts organzatonal capacty.
TSEV: CIVIL BILGI
SOCIETY UNIVERSITY:
MONITORING GUIDELINES
REPORT 2012 FOR
Third Sector Foundation of Turkey MONITORING
(TSEV) published its second report
PUBLIC
providing an in-depth analysis of
the main EXPEN-
topics of
DITURES The
Turkeys
non-profit Guidelines for Monitoring Public
Expenditures published by the
108
sector
Istanbul Bilgi University, NGO
including
Training and Research Center with
civil
Open Society Foundations support
society
aimed at suggesting structured
government
methods for
relations, legal and financial
monitoring
infrastructure in this respect,
government
resources available to the
spending,
civil society, governance and
sharing these
international relations. The report with NGOs
covers the developments in 2011- and produce
2012 and challenges encountered in a written
practice, highlighting comparative material
data revealing both advances and for use by
setbacks in the development of the individuals, NGOs or platforms in
third sector. The research carried monitoring public spending. The
out with our Foundations support seven guidelines prepared within the
involved case studies elaborated framework of the project are: 1) Basic
through interviews conducted face to Budget Literacy; 2) Multiannual
face, via telephone calls and e-mail Budget; 3) Military and Domestic
messages. Security Spending; 4) Social
Protection Spending; 5) Public
Spending for Disabled People; 6)
the Documentarist Istanbul
Documentary Film Days in the
past years, as well as those which
Public Spending for Empowering the
Youth; and 7) Public Spending for
the Protection of Children.
SATURDOX
DOCU-
MENTARY
MEETINGS AT
DEPO SaturDox/
Documentary Program at DEPO
in Istanbul is going on for the past
three years with our Foundations
support. The program involves film
screenings on Saturdays every two
weeks and talks on the theme of
the week. The films and meetings
program is decided jointly by Depo
and Documentarist team, the
organizer of documentary films
festival in Turkey since 2008. The
gathering on Saturdays starts with
the screening of a documentary
film chosen on the basis of a theme
identified for that week, followed by
presentations by persons working
on the subject theme. The films are
chosen amongst those shown during
2012. A book was also published
compiling a selection of cases
documented in the website and
have not been screened in Istanbul featuring articles on the subject with
so far. The main criteria of choice a view to evaluate the findings of the
are social, economic and political survey and start a constructive debate
content as well as the films qualities on censorship.
in terms of aesthetics and form. The
full-length documentaries chosen
for the program involve topics from
a large geographical span covering
Balkans, Caucasus and Middle East
including Turkey.
BLACK
RIBBON:
FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION
IN ARTS
109
PROJECT The
Black Ribbon Project carried out
by Performing Arts Research and
Creation Association (PARC) was
developed to provide information
about censorship on art works, to
document cases of censorship, to
analyze them and to struggle against
censorship. The website of the project
opened in August 2011 provides a list
of censorship cases since 2000 and
underlines a variety of censorship
methods including punishments,
bans, and criminalization. In addition
to media monitoring, for the purpose
of revealing the hidden cases of
censorship, the Black Band team
carried out 80 face-to-face interviews
in nine cities and presented the
outcome of the survey in the meeting
Freedom of Expression in Art and
Censorship held on 29 September
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