Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey
Turkey remains one of most challenging places in the European region to exercise fundamental freedoms. In this challenging environment, Freedom House seeks to empower civil society to contribute to the improvement of fundamental freedoms in Turkey and to advocate with national and international decision makers to uphold the country’s human rights commitments.
This project aims to create a common ground for different civil society actors to address human rights issues in the country. Freedom House and its partners intend to respond threats to fundamental freedoms by providing litigation support, research and analysis, support for grassroots initiatives, and advocacy.
Partner organizations:
- Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
- Freedom Research Association (FRA)
- Civic Space Studies Association (CSSA)
Key Initiatives
Civic Space Empowerment Program:
Financial Support to Grassroots Initiatives to Strengthen Civic Engagement on the Local Level in Turkey
Freedom House invites applications for funding and support from local, registered non-governmental organizations based in Turkey that seek to expand civic engagement on a local level through building partnerships with local municipality offices in Turkey.
The “Civic Space Empowerment” grants program will serve the following objectives:
- To provide financial support to cross-cutting grassroot initiatives that engage journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, and other activists that seek to strengthen cooperation between local civil society organizations, communities, and municipalities to advance fundamental freedoms in Turkey;
- To provide essential technical support, assistance, and tools to local grassroot initiatives in order to leverage their impact to develop projects in response to openings and opportunities in the aftermath of the previous municipal elections in Turkey;
- To help improve initiatives focusing on promoting fundamental freedoms in Turkey through local community engagement.
Freedom House will select up to four (4) initiatives for up to $10,000 in funding each. Applications will be considered in the following thematic areas:
- Raise awareness about human rights issues with local stakeholders in Turkey;
- Engage officials in local civil society organizations and events;
- Encourage dialogue between civil society groups and the government;
- Building allies for civil society on local level
Applications must be received by Freedom House by 23:59 EST on March 27, 2023. All grant applications must be submitted electronically to eurasia@freedomhouse.org with “Turkey Civic Engagement Initiatives” in the subject line.
Application materials
