Conference on Migration and Human Rights was held at Dolmabahçe Palace
13.10.2024
The Conference on Migration and Human Rights, organized by the Constitutional Court and the Presidency of Migration Management, was held on Friday, 11 October 2024 at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul.
The conference was attended by the President of the Constitutional Court Kadir Özkaya, the President of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Farhad Abdullayev, the President of the Court of Cassation Ömer Kerkez, the President of the Court of Accounts Metin Yener, the Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, the Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Prof. Dr. Saadet Yüksel and judges of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the members of the Constitutional Courts of Azerbaijan, Romania and Moldova and members of the judiciary.
We Take Law, Human Rights and Our Civilization Values as Reference
The conference started with the opening speeches of the President of the Constitutional Court Kadir Özkaya, the Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and the Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Prof. Dr. Saadet Yüksel.
Emphasizing the importance of law and human rights, the Minister of Interior Mr. Ali Yerlikaya said, “Under the leadership of our President of the Republic, our country carries out migration management within the framework of our Constitution, Law No. 6458 and the relevant legislation; on the basis of our national interests; in accordance with our civilizational values and human rights.” Minister Mr. Yerlikaya underlined that all activities in the field of combating irregular migration are carried out in accordance with human rights and said, “As in all areas of migration management, we take law, human rights and our civilizational values as reference in all processes of combating irregular migration and migrant smuggling and deportation.”
Reminding the importance of mobile migration vehicles, Minister Mr. Ali Yerlikaya said, “Mobile Migration Point vehicles have also been put into practice as a result of our efforts to carry out our combat against irregular migration on the basis of our civilizational values, human rights and law.”
With YIMER 157, We Respond to Information Requests and Denunciations for Help from Foreigners in 5 Languages 7 Days 24 Hours.
Minister Mr. Yerlikaya stated that the Foreigners Communication Center (YIMER) responds quickly and uninterruptedly to the information requests and denunciations for help from all foreigners in Türkiye. Mr. Yerlikaya said, “One of our implementations that best describes our approach and activities regarding human rights is the YIMER 157 Call Center. YIMER, which provides service in 5 languages 7 days 24 hours, responds quickly to every information request and denunciations for help from foreigners.”
Stating that migration is one of the most important global issues in today's world and deeply affects the lives of every country, President of the Constitutional Court Kadir Özkaya said that states and international organizations should make efforts and assume responsibility to stop war, massacre and ill-treatment, which are the main causes of migration, and to increase the level of welfare in underdeveloped societies. In the continuation of his speech, President Özkaya stated that the European Court of Human Rights and the Turkish Constitutional Court have developed important jurisprudence on the protection of the rights of migrants and have contributed to the strengthening of the rule of law by addressing the phenomenon of migration on the basis of human rights with these decisions.
Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Prof. Dr. Saadet Yüksel also said that the issue of migration manifests itself in many areas such as political debates, legislative activity, social science research, daily life experiences and international courts. Referring to the jurisprudence regarding the functioning of national and international courts on migration, Yüksel stated that the organized event would provide them with the opportunity for a judicial discussion on migration. Providing information on the number of applications concerning Türkiye before the ECtHR, Prof.Dr.Saadet Yüksel said: “Indeed, the cases before the ECtHR involve important legal issues for Türkiye, especially considering the number of refugees living in Türkiye and the sensitive conditions at the country's borders. It is noteworthy that, considering the number of applications concerning Türkiye that come before the ECtHR each year, it can be said that applications regarding migration do not even constitute 1 percent of all applications. This shows us that, in the field of migration, the fact that administrative authorities such as the Presidency of Migration Management, and national judicial authorities, especially the Constitutional Court, largely take into account the case-law of the ECtHR prevents the issue from becoming a systematic judicial problem to a large extent.” Stating that although there are certain differences, the ECtHR and the Constitutional Court continue to create coordinated jurisprudence with approaches that mutually reinforce and enrich each other, Prof. Dr. Saadet Yüksel said, “Especially in the process following the entry into force of Law No. 6458, it is observed that a judicial dialogue has been developed between the ECtHR and the Constitutional Court and the legislation has been harmonized with the case law of the ECtHR to a great extent.”
Three Panels on Migration and Human Rights Were Held
Within the scope of the conference, which aims to develop effective solutions in the field of migration in the light of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court and to strengthen cooperation in the international arena, a panel on migration and human rights was held.
In the first panel, moderated by the President of Migration Management Atilla Toros, Vice President of the European Court of Human Rights Arnfinn Bårdsen and the Acting President of the Constitutional Court Basri Bağcı took part as panelists.
In the second panel, moderated by the President of the Court of Disputes and Member of the Constitutional Court Rıdvan Güleç, included Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Lorraine Schembri Orland, Member of the Constitutional Court İrfan Fidan and the President of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State İbrahim Topuz.
The third panel, moderated by the President of the 1st Chamber of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors Halil Koç, included Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Sebastian Rădulețu, Member of the Constitutional Court Yılmaz Akçil, and Member of the Council of State Cengiz Aydemir.
The closing speeches of the Conference on Migration and Human Rights were made by the President of the Constitutional Court Kadir Özkaya, the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan Farhad Abdullayev, the Vice President of the European Court of Human Rights Arnfinn Bårdsen, and the President of Migration Management Atilla Toros.
Anayasa Mahkemesi ve Göç İdaresi Başkanlığımız tarafından düzenlenen;
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 11, 2024
‘’Göç ve İnsan Hakları Konferansına” katıldık.
Tarihin en köklü sosyolojik meselelerinden birisi olan göç hukuki açıdan da önemli bir olgudur.
Ülkemiz göç yönetimini, Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTErdogan’ın… pic.twitter.com/2PRbvtTfBe
Anayasa Mahkemesi Başkanlığı ve Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı tarafından gerçekleştirilen konferans programındayız.
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 11, 2024
📍İstanbul #CanlıYayın📡🎥 https://t.co/UeSlU6TRyB
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