The turkey tribunal
The turkey tribunal, which convened in geneva from september 20 to 24, 2021, is an international opinion tribunal that conducted an independent legal assessment of human rights violations committed under turkey’s jurisdiction.
The tribunal’s findings were based on:
✔ Objective reports by seven independent international experts, who meticulously examined the allegations.
✔ Testimonies presented during a week-long public session.
✔ An evaluation of turkey’s practices against the european convention on human rights, other international legal instruments ratified by turkey, and general principles of international law.
Crimes against humanity
Following five days of public hearings and extensive legal deliberation, the six independent international judges of the turkey tribunal rendered a unanimous legal opinion.
Their conclusion: acts of torture and enforced disappearances carried out in turkey could qualify as crimes against humanity, provided that a competent judicial body establishes both the intent and knowledge of the perpetrators.
Next steps
Equipped with this authoritative opinion, VSA, in collaboration with its partners and under the leadership of managing partner johan heymans and prof. Em. Johan vande lanotte, is actively engaged in efforts to mobilize international opinion and advocate for targeted sanctions. The objective is to ensure that those responsible for large-scale human rights violations in turkey are held accountable.
🔹 Learn more about the turkey tribunal and the next steps in the pursuit of justice (link).