Background

The ETKINIZ Programme (“Monitoring Human Rights Situation and Advocating for Compliance with International Human Rights Framework”) is an EU flagship initiative supporting civil society organisations (CSOs) in Türkiye. Launched in 2019 and now in its third phase, the programme addresses challenges faced by human rights monitors—limited expertise, resource constraints, restricted dialogue with public institutions, and difficult access to information.

ETKINIZ III builds on previous achievements to further institutionalise and expand support for civil monitoring through three mutually reinforcing pillars: (i) direct support to monitoring initiatives; (ii) capacity development and access to international mechanisms; and (iii) networking, dialogue, and visibility.

Objectives

Overall Objective: Strengthen the role of CSOs in promoting and protecting human rights through expanded civil monitoring and advocacy at local, national, European, and international levels.

Specific Outcomes:

• CSOs effectively engaged in human rights monitoring and advocacy
• Increased CSO capacity to monitor human rights and access international mechanisms
• Enhanced advocacy and visibility of human rights issues through diffusion of monitoring results

Key Activities

• Operate a nationwide Human Rights Monitoring Support Facility, providing tailored technical assistance (data collection, verification, analysis, reporting, advocacy) to CSOs; facilitate at least 250 monitoring initiatives and 250 outputs (reports, policy papers, advocacy materials).
• Deliver a comprehensive capacity development programme (trainings, workshops, mentoring, Online Resource Hub) on human rights standards, monitoring methodologies, and advocacy; support international mobility for at least 500 CSO representatives and capacity building for 1,500 participants.
• Facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and networking among CSOs, public institutions, academia, media, and international stakeholders through forums, dialogue events, and thematic exchanges.
• Lead communication campaigns, media engagement, and online outreach to increase public awareness of human rights issues and visibility of monitoring results.
• Manage programme M&E, learning, and reporting systems; coordinate a pool of experts (6,000+ non-key expert days); ensure full EU compliance (contractual, financial, procurement, visibility).

Expected Results

• Civil monitoring initiatives secured and sustainably strengthened
• Quality and quantity of civil monitoring reports improved and increased
• CSOs strengthened and equipped with expertise, know-how, and skills for civil monitoring
• Increased CSO access to and impact on European and international human rights mechanisms
• Dialogue forums established for improving the civil monitoring environment
• Citizen awareness raised on the role and value of civil monitoring for human rights protection and promotion