It is very likely that for the first time in the history of the Republic, citizens of Turkey are feeling that protection and improvement of their rights are only possible with their direct intervention and involvement in the decision-making procedures.
Can Atalay is a human rights lawyer, an activist and member of Taksim Solidarity group, as well as the executive board member of Social Rights Association.
Human rights defenders in Turkey have been subjected to harassment, threats, surveillance, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, judicial harassment including criminal prosecution, violent attacks, prolonged arbitrary detention and ill-treatment. They are targeted for their work on denouncing impunity for serious human rights violations, defending sexual rights, investigating on ultra-nationalist networks, advocating for labour rights or defending the right to conscientious objection.
