ANNUAL REPORT

2021

www.democraticprogress.org
 ANNUAL REPORT

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2021
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 04
Contents
Introduction

06
About DPI

14
Impact Statement

16
OUR
MISSION
Roundtable

28
Comparative Study Visits

34
Assessment Meetings To broaden bases for public
38 involvement in promoting
Assessment and Research Reports in 2021 peace and democracy.
42 Our unique model
Board Members
combines expertise and
46
Council of Experts research with practical
64 inclusive platforms
Thank You for dialogue.
 Introduction

Although the effects of the pandemic still im- This is why DPI’s activities in 2021 were mod- policy makers and received extremely positive
poses difficult conditions globally , throughout elled after the potential opportunities and con- feedback. Our work with women, youth, civil
2021 DPI continued to create dialogue oppor- crete benefits that would be brought by the society and the media was also carried out in
tunities between different political and social resolution of the Kurdish Issue through a peace the presence of an increasing number of par-
segments, and keep peace on the agenda of process that include relevant peace workers, ticipants and world-renowned conflict resolu-
politicians and civil society, utilising both on- policymakers, media figures, businesspeople, tion experts.
line and face-to-face meetings throughout women’s groups, youth and civic society or- In 2021, we greatly improved our cooperation
2021.Like everywhere else in the world in 2021, ganisations as well as the public at large. with different organizations. We carried out our
the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role The purpose of this Annual Report is to show- activities in cooperation with many organiza-
in shaping the political and social agenda in case some of DPI’s activities in the year 2021 tions, from chambers of commerce and indus-
Turkey and deepening the already existing po- during which we hosted virtual and in-person try to universities, women’s and youth organi-
litical and economic problems. In 2021 Turkey’s activities which respected COVID-19 guidelines. zations. This has increased both the impact of
agenda was also shaped by the economic cri- In 2021, we held both online and face-to-face our work on the field and the public interest.
sis and the debates on the political alliances meetings with a hybrid model. This approach In addition to all of these, we also focused on
Kerim Yildiz imposed by the transition to the presidential has allowed us to have access to internation- Turkey’s experience with conflict resolution and
Chief Executive Officer system. The Kurdish issue, which has lost its al experts and to develop the diversity of our the solution process during the year in order to
Democratic Progress Institute
primary place on the agenda since 2015, has participants and speakers, in line with our aim draw lessons and make suggestions for the fu-
started to come back to the agenda of politics to provide an inclusive platform for peace dis- ture.
because the system change has brought the cussions. We held series of meetings with very Our innovative perspective has contributed
Kurdish voters, whose votes ranged between 10 well-known domestic and international ex- to opening the formerly exclusive exchanges
I am delighted and 14 percent, to a position that will determine perts on the economy and the constitution, the amongst peacebuilders to a greater variety of
the fate of politics in Turkey, as never before in two issues that most affected Turkey’s agen- actors such by providing them with an oppor-
to present the history. da in 2021. Our meeting series, which we fo- tunity to connect and to interact through dis-
At the heart of Turkey’s problems such as the cused on the economic costs of the conflict in cussion stated topics. This allowed participants
Democratic economy, the judiciary, foreign policy, and hu- Turkey and the dividends of peace, attracted to reflect on the lesson learnt and the potential
man rights, lie the issues of democratisation great attention from both the public, civil soci- next steps for finding sustainable solutions to
Progress and normalisation. In this sense, DPI has been ety, media and business world as it is the first promote democracy in the region.
suggesting that the Kurdish issue could rep- report which focused on the economic cost of I would like to thank DPI’s Staff, Board mem-
Institute’s (DPI) resent a unique opportunity. A renewed solu- war and the dividends of peace in Turkey. bers, Council of Experts, Speakers and Interns
tion process could serve as an exit strategy, At a time when the government and the oppo- for working relentlessly to help DPI thrive and
Annual Report addressing both internal and foreign policy sition were working on alternative constitutions, our projects to flourish. I am very grateful for
problems. The resolving of the Kurdish Issue another research and meeting series we held our donors and funders’ support, namely the
for 2021. would not only improve Turkey’s political and with the contribution of the country’s leading Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the Norwe-
economic stability but could also help secure professors of constitution took place with the gian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Swiss
better relations with the European Union. participation of especially political parties and Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

4 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 5
 About DPI
The Democratic Progress Institute (DPI)
is an independent non-governmental
organisation that was established in
consultation with leading experts in
conflict resolution and democratic
advancement. The organisation’s
primary objective is to promote peace
and support democratic development
through encouraging public dialogue
and engagement between adversaries.
To achieve this, DPI provides a unique
programme model which utilises our
knowledge and experience of peace
building to support practical approaches
to harnessing dialogue such as
Roundtables, Workshops, Comparative
Study Visits (CSVs) and other
platforms for exchange.

6 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 7
 Our Aims Include
Our Values
As a ‘neutral’ and non-partisan organisation, DPI can extend invitations to
senior political figures from across Turkey’s political spectrum. We also have
DPI was founded on the principles that inclusive dialogue and open exchange access academics, civil society leaders and influential media representatives
of knowledge will be conducive to promoting peace, democracy and human from across Turkey’s professional and political spectrum through networks
rights. With nine years’ experience running inclusive programmes in Turkey, built over 10 years. Our commitment to inclusivity is reflected by this broad
the organisation has cultivated the trust and active participation of key range of backgrounds represented by the participants who attend our events.
stakeholders from both the political and civil society sectors. Our dedication Feedback from such events has repeatedly held that DPI is currently the ‘only
to these relationships and networks on the ground has been instrumental organisation which is able to gather different groups of people to talk and
in ensuring the sustainability of the project and is essential to the success think on peace and democracy in Turkey’ and that DPI’s activities have pro-
of our mission. The work we strive achieve is rooted in values of respect and vided ‘the most inclusive platform so far’ where: ‘people from different political
equality, through which we seek to foster strong relationships and a collab- tendencies [in Turkey] can easily come together […] and talk to each other
orative environment in which new ideas and expertise can come together and negotiate their differences.’
to advance democracy. At all levels, DPI is committed to professionalism, We have a Council of Experts who actively contribute to all our work. Consist-
integrity and impartiality. ing of local and international experts, this council provides advice on areas of
human rights, constitutional law, transitional justice and truth commissions,
international humanitarian law, mediation and conflict resolution. Our strong

Our Aims and Objectives

working relationships in the region have allowed us to collaborate with ex-
perts, scholars and universities.

The organisation is focused on providing expertise and practical frame-

• Contributing to broadening bases and providing platforms for discussion on
works to foster public engagement and discourse in support of peace and
establishing a structured public dialogue on peace and democracy building
democracy building on a global scale. To achieve this, DPI aims to contin-
• Providing opportunities for different parties to draw comparative studies,
ue to promote a structured dialogue between public and private actors,
and compare various mechanisms used to achieve positive results in com-
and to create new opportunities for discussions on peace and democra-
parable cases.
cy building. We seek to encourage an environment of inclusive, open, and
• Creating an atmosphere whereby different parties share knowledge, ideas,
structured discussion whereby different parties are in the position to share
concerns, suggestions, and challenges facing the development of a resolu-
knowledge and concerns across multiple levels. Throughout these efforts,
tion in Turkey and the wider region.
DPI strives to identify common priorities and develop innovative approaches
• Supporting and strengthening collaboration between academics, civil soci-
to actively encourage democratic solutions. Additionally, we aim to support
ety, and policymakers.
and strengthen collaboration between academics, civil society organisa-
• Identifying common priorities and developing innovative approaches in or-
tions, and policy makers through our initiatives. DPI especially aims to use
der to participate in and influence democracy- building.
comparative studies as an essential tool to avoid past mistakes and ensure
• Promoting respect for and protection of human rights regardless of race,
democratic issues are shared and resolved globally.
colour, sex, language, religion, political persuasion, or other belief or opinion.

8 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 9
 Our Methods Our Key Themes

DPI focuses on providing expertise and practical frameworks

Gender, Peace and Security
to encourage stronger public debates and in the promo- DPI remains committed to addressing gender-related issues, with a
tion of peace and democracy building. To achieve this, DPI focus on the crucial role that women play in conflict resolution and the
seeks to foster an environment of inclusive and structured promotion of peace and security. We facilitate the active participation
discussions whereby a range of actors can share knowl- of women in peace negotiations and provide opportunities for both
edge, concerns and offer suggestions for resolving conflict, women and men from various countries and backgrounds to share
which allows for the strengthening of democracy across perspectives and experiences. In 2020, we continued with our commit-
multiple levels of society. DPI programming is underpinned ment to gender equality and women’s participation in peacebuilding
by a commitment to learn lessons from regional, national, by hosting meetings that emphasised the importance of women’s in-
and international examples through the use of comparative volvement in conflict resolution.
studies as a tool for understanding and equipping stake-
holders and stakeholder institutions. This informs our activ- Governance and Constitutions
ities across all focus areas and helps to ensure that there
preparations in place for a resolution to the conflict in Tur- The nuances and complexities in many of contemporary international

key. DPI activities include participants who are selected to conflicts pose challenges for countries transitioning from conflict in-

represent their constituencies in consultation with our DPI cluding implementing the right form of governance and solving con-

expert advisers on the ground, to address the need for equal stitutional problems. DPI aims to research and share insights into the

representation and participation across all groups and per- approaches taken by international cases and identify lessons that can

spectives. Events (Roundtables and Comparative Study be learnt from them.

Visits) engage diverse viewpoints and are structured to fa-

cilitate interaction both between participants and leading Human Rights and Access to Justice
international experts. A balance of attendees of past events
Human rights and access to justice are crucial during, and in the after-
as well as new participants ensure continuation of memo-
math, of violent conflict, as they enable individuals to resolve disputes
ry and knowledge transmitted from previous DPI activities,
under the auspices of the state. At DPI, we recognise that meaningful
whilst also broadening bases for wider involvement in pro-
democratic reform, peace, and stability require a foundation of human
moting peace and democratisation.
rights, equality, and the rule of law. Our work aims to promote these
principles and address language and identity issues, which are critical
in resolving conflicts and establishing a stable democracy. By focusing
on these crucial areas, DPI aims to contribute to a just and equitable
society for all.

10 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 11
 Conflict Mediation
In order to establish sustainable peace agreements, it is vital to ad-
dress the underlying grievances fuelling the conflict. By providing a fo-
rum for a diverse number of representatives to exchange their views
and experiences, we aim to facilitate their future participation and
readiness for processes of mediation and negotiation. By engaging in
these discussions and conversations, DPI helps to educate individuals The Media
on various aspects of the conflict and facilitate the formation of mu-
The role of the media is imperative for reporting, reflecting, and in-
tually acceptable agreements. Our efforts towards fostering open and
fluencing processes of conflict resolution. The organisation places a
inclusive communication serve as a crucial step towards achieving
strong emphasis on the role of the media, both traditional and social, in
lasting peace.
rapidly spreading information surrounding conflicts. DPI understands

Disarmament, Demobilisation, the power of social media and uses it as a channel with which to dis-

Reintegration and seminate our work and expand our reach and breadth.

Security Sector Reform

Transitional Justice
The disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) of armed
DPI focuses on transitional justice as a means to address human
groups into the community, as well as security sector reform (SSR) are
rights violations, promote accountability, and encourage reconcilia-
essential for a successful transition from conflict to a peaceful and
tion in post-conflict societies. Our research and events aim to highlight
democratic society where state security serves, rather than oppress-
the potential benefits of transitional justice measures, including the
es, its citizens.. DPI analyses global examples of DDR and SSR through
recognition of victims’ rights, the improvement of civic trust, and the
comparative studies and, where appropriate, incorporates these into
strengthening of the rule of law, all with the hope of aiding democratic
our activity programme, to promote knowledge and facilitate informed
advancements.
debate.

Civil Society Democracy

DPI is committed to ensuring effective democracy building, which in-
DPI recognises the critical role of civil society in resolving conflicts and
volves the consolidation of democratic institutions, ranging from the
advancing democracy. In regions where official channels for con-
justice system and security services to the development of civil society.
flict resolution may be limited,civil society can and play a vital role in
DPI is committed to processes of creating, strengthening and sustain-
supplementing peace processes. As such, DPI places emphasis on
ing democracy. For democracy building to be effective, it must ensure
strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to contribute
the participation of the entire spectrum of stakeholders within a soci-
to conflict resolution and democracy building.
ety and requires the education and engagement of disparate groups.
Through all of DPI’s activities, we strive to broaden bases for public en-
gagement and support of peace processes, at all levels of society, and
endeavour to make our events as inclusive and diverse as possible.

12 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 13
 Impact Statement DPI’s Online CSE ‘Celebrating Women’s Participation in
Peace and Conflict Resolution / Participant Feedback

During 2021, we are proud to have continued to facilitate inclusive dialogue Kezban Hatemi: “I believe that, holding the awareness of the importance
processes through such extraordinary times. Individuals from a diverse set of dialogue in difficult times and being ready and equipped for peace, will
of political backgrounds came together to share their perspectives and greatly contribute to the democratisation process. I think we should en-
experiences. In 2021, DPI provided policy makers, academics, researchers, gage in dialogue with opponents on this issue.”
journalists, civil society actors, officials and business actors with a plat-
form to engage in discussions about peace processes from around the Dilara Gök: “Learning and understanding the work done in the field of
world, and lessons learnt on behalf of the Turkish Peace Process, its trajec- peace and conflict resolution through the experiences of the people in-
tory, and future developments within Turkey. We achieved this through our
volved in these processes is always unique. I can feel the difference af-
ter each meeting. In my current work in the context of women and youth
programme of activities, including Roundtables, Comparative Study Visits,
studies, I have the chance to learn from your meetings as they contribute
and Assessment Meetings, as well as through the production of materials
to my work both in terms of substance and methodology.”
such as Assessment Papers and Research Reports. As restrictions started
to ease in 2021, DPI implemented a hybrid approach, in order to combine
the benefits of both in-person as well as online events when possible. DPI
was able to hold some in-person events in London and Istanbul where
participants were able to draw upon international experiences of conflict Feedback Reports
resolution through in-person sessions. DPI’s November 2021
Our impact has been recognized by our participants, who shared positive
Economy Reverse CSV
feedback after our events, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to
Muslim Erbay: “This meeting made
interact with a wide range of actors and to partake in discussions regard- Feedback Reports Reverse
me to do a self-assessment. I will
ing the political processes in the region. Media CSV Meeting
share it with my organisation and
October 2021
with its branches.”

Isın Elicin: “It was a very useful

DPI Online Mapping Policy for Peace and repairing meeting as it was
DPI Online Assessment
the first in person meeting after
meeting: “Turkey and
Alpaslan Oguz (British Embassy): “These activities definitely a long break. I enjoyed a lot meet the Kurdish Issue”
with my colleagues and have a
play a role in raising awareness and a platform for intellectual
meaningful discussion.”
discussion”. Derek Mooney: “[The knowledge I
gained through DPI] will be useful
in future meetings and encounters
both in Ireland and the EU.”

14 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 15
 Roundtable Meeting: DPI Brainstorming
Online, 16 February 2021

On 16 February 2021, DPI held an online brain- Overall, the meeting provided a useful discus-
storming roundtable meeting to evaluate and sion where the priorities of DPI’s 2021 program

ROUNDTABLE
discuss DPI’s potential steps forward, relevant were addressed by Turkey-based and inter-
methods and topics available in the context national experts. Entering 2021, where uncer-
of conflict resolution and the Kurdish Issue. The tainty still resides due to the COVID-19 pan-
meeting was virtually attended by DPI’s Council demic, it remains vital for DPI to continue to
of Experts which includes leading actors from innovate and provide yet more inclusive ways
Turkey’s political and policy-making circles, ac- to engage diverse, and sometimes opposed,
ademia, civil society organisations, businesses actors in conflict resolution dialogue in Tur-
and journalism, as well as leading internation- key. The expert insight of CoE members from
al experts with experience in conflict resolution around the world contributed to overall dis-
across the globe. The meeting discussed the cussions on how to meet the multi-faceted
current political situation in Turkey, the implica- challenges Turkey faces at this time: increas-
tions for our 2021 plans and priorities, in particu- ing polarisation, the deep economic crisis and
lar the opportunities and obstacles for conflict the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19
resolution. pandemic. In these challenging times, it is
Vahap Coşkun, Member of the Wise Persons crucial to keep dialogue alive and, even more
Committee and Professor of Law at Dicle Uni- so, to find innovative ways to use technology
versity, gave a brief presentation on the current to understand the implications that COVID-19
political situation in Turkey, which touched upon can have on conflict resolution and peace
the constitution, the electoral agenda, and the building. The online event forms part of a larg-
Kurdish Issue. Participants also discussed the er series of activities planned in the context of
issue of democratisation, the role of the opposi- the project:
tion in conflict resolution, as well as the impact “Forging Pathways to Peace and Democracy in
of regional and international developments to Turkey”, supported by the Norwegian and Irish
the Kurdish Issue. government.

DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 17

 Mapping Dividends of Peace in Turkey:
‘The Dividends of Peace and the Cost of the
Conflict in Turkey: A Regional Perspective’
Online, 29 April 2021

This meeting was the first of the series ‘Map- In addition to the human and political cost,
ping Dividends of Peace in Turkey’ in 2021, unresolved conflicts also create a pervasive
which was designed to focus on the econom- economic cost affecting all segments of soci-
ic benefits of peace, as well as the direct and ety. The lower levels of output, investment and
indirect effects of peacebuilding on econom- growth are among the well-known economic
ic growth and stability. The aim of this meet- consequences of continuing conflict in a given
ing was to discuss the role and contribution of country. Similarly, the economy of Turkey has
business groups in the possible future Peace been considerably affected by its 40-year-old
Process and keep dialogue going for finding conflict. However, the global pandemic has
democratic solutions in Turkey. exacerbated this situation, leading Turkey to
experience one of the most challenging eco-
nomic crises in its history. Despite the wors-
ening effect of the global pandemic, the eco-
nomic crisis is seen as grounded mainly in the
decline of institutions and experts say that this
multi-cause economic crisis in Turkey can only
be overcome with steps towards normalization
and democratisation. This is seen as a precon-
dition especially for foreign capital to invest Participants listen to Mehmet Kaya discuss the need for the
business sector to get involved in peacebuilding.
back to the country.
The event’s keynote speakers were Bertie
Ahern, former Prime Minister of Ireland and Me-
hmet Kaya, Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce lenging times and will contribute to the debate Mehmet Kaya, Chairman of Diyarbakir Cham-
and Industry Chairman of the Board. The on the economic rationale for peace in Turkey. ber of Commerce, commenced his pres-
speakers discussed both the international and With particular focus on the roles of peace entation by emphasising the importance
regional perspective of the dividends of peace and economy, Ahern shared insightful key re- of DPI’s work in Turkey and the necessity for
as well as possible pathways for the business quirements for peace and supplied central increased transparency on the connection
sector to get involved in peacebuilding efforts. lessons of peacebuilding from his own expe- between the economy and the Kurdish Is-
The activity brought together a mixed group rience. Ahern further discussed the economic sue. Kaya spoke about the economic gain as
of participants with diverse political affilia- impact of conflict and benefits of peace, on well as the sacrifices in establishing peace
Bertie Ahern discussing the economic tions and backgrounds, including prominent both sides of the island of Ireland, and the sig- by providing detailed insight into the num-
impact of conflict.
businesspeople from south and south-eastern nificance of the Good Friday Agreement, which bers and figures of the labour market and
Turkey, academics, civil society actors, journal- he had greatly contributed to. During the con- employment in the Kurdish region. He iterat-
ists, and various representatives from political flict, unemployment was high and investment ed that the business sector should assist in
parties. The roundtable meeting provided a low, signifying little economic growth; however, creating awareness on peacebuilding, not
valuable platform for leading business figures Northern Ireland has significantly progressed least for their own prosperity as shown by the
to discuss the economic effect on peace and since, becoming a strong economy with high Northern Ireland example..
democratisation processes during these chal- foreign investment.

18 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 19
 Mapping Policy for Peace “An Evaluation
of the Peace Process in Turkey:
Lessons Learnt and Pathways Ahead”
Online, 27 May 2021

On 27 May, DPI held an online roundtable en- The first roundtable of the series was a closed
titled ‘An Evaluation of the Peace Process in meeting which provided a platform to dis-
Turkey: Lessons Learnt and Pathways Ahead’. cuss Turkey’s Peace Process with two key
The meeting was the first of its series called speakers from opposing sides of the process,
‘Mapping Policy for Peace’, which aims to out- Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former HDP MP and Ad-
line the benefits of peace for the country and nan Boynukara, former AK Party MP. The two
boost public debate by discussing a concrete key speakers shared lessons they had drawn
peace agenda and action plan for the 100th from their first-hand involvement during the
anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. Through Solution process that took place between
this series, DPI brought together actors from 2011-2015. Önder stated that the Kurdish Is-
all sides of the political spectrum, leaders of sue was multifaceted, with historical, cultural,
political parties and local municipalities as and economic aspects. He discussed that the
well as policy makers in Turkey, to discuss the “Dolmabahçe Declaration” was being unfair-
country’s Peace Process, the lessons learnt ly criminalised and there has been backlash
and the potential openings for future discus- from the opposition and the Kurdish com-
sions. By doing so, DPI seeks to bring into sharp munity as well. He argued that in fact it was
focus the possible paths to peace according a very important culmination of the two-and-
to each party as well as their relation to each a-half-year process with a focus on democ-
other. ratisation. Based on his personal experience, Önder argued that one of the failures of the an accomplishment and as something that
previous process is the lack of trust and mutu- can be built upon in the future.
al resistance from both parties. He also stated As the 100th anniversary of the Republic of
that people have been criminalised for their Turkey and the scheduled general elections
involvement in the Peace Process. of 2023 draw near, it was ideal and timely to
During his presentation, the former AK Party look forward and draw out the visions for a
MP Adnan Boynukara, , argued that the Kurd- peace that exist amongst Turkey’s political
ish Issue should be addressed as a human parties. As such, it can be argued that facts
rights issue instead of being portrayed as at hand provide a significant opportunity for a
countering terrorist activity. Without making return to (publicly) debating peace in a polit-
this distinction, it will be difficult to solve this ical framework, as the resolution of the Kurd-
problem. Furthermore, Boynukara highlighted ish Issue in Turkey offers a solution model for
that there have been efforts by the State to the other growing problems of the country.
address the issue through alternative political Discussing existing opportunities for a resolu-
solutions, which was in fact bold at the time. tion and focusing on the benefits of peace in
He explained that there was backlash and im- Turkey has the potential to draft an exit strat-
passe from security bureaucrats, who main- egy for the political actors to normalise the
tained the Kurdish Issue should be treated as country, stabilise the economy and repair the
a terrorist issue. Although the Peace Process damaged relations both inside and outside
did not succeed, Boynukara still regards it as Turkey.

20 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 21
 Mapping Policy for Peace “An Evaluation of the Mapping Policy for Peace “An Evaluation of the
Peace Process in Turkey: Lessons Learnt and Peace Process in Turkey: Lessons Learnt and
Pathways Ahead II” Pathways Ahead III”
Online, 30 June 2021 Online, 30 July 2021

as the army, the influence of public support On 30th July, DPI held an online roundtable en- cluding from AK Party, CHP, Good Party, Future
and the lack of the current persecution of ac- titled ‘An Evaluation of the Peace Process in Party, HDP and DEVA Party. The meeting started
tors who were involved in the Peace Process Turkey: Lessons Learnt and Pathways Ahead III’, off with a presentation by Sırrı Sureyya Önder,
and the lack of legal protections from them, which was the third of its series called ‘Mapping explaining that the Kurdish Issue has become
the role of the media and civil society in cre- Policy for Peace’, aiming to outline the benefits more complex since 2013. There are now more
ating support for the process, Turkey’s policies of peace for the country and boost public de- obstacles and challenges, including an in-
with regards to Syria and the role of person- bate by discussing concrete steps that need crease in mutual distrust and a further crimi-
al characteristics were amongst many of the to be taken in order to create a peace agen- nalisation of Kurdish people.
topics discussed. Overall, the second meeting da in Turkey. The meeting continued with two Adnan Boynukara argued that the last Peace
of DPI’s series was highly engaging and high- key speakers, Sırrı Sureyya Önder, former HDP Process demonstrated that a peace process in
lighted once again the importance of listen- MP and a member of the Imrali Delegation, and Turkey is not impossible. Similar to Önder, he
ing to the first-hand experiences of Turkey’s Adnan Boynukara, former High Counsellor at noted that finding common ground and con-
Solution Process and discussing its implica- the Ministry of Justice and AK Party MP. tinuing dialogue is essential in order for there to
tions on a possible future process. The high The aim of the third meeting was to focus on be a successful process. The speakers recom-
participation of such a diverse group of actors concrete recommendations and preparations mended that for the next peace process to be
also demonstrates the demand for discussion for the possible resumption of a resolution successful, the preparation should be lengthy,

This meeting was the second of the ‘Map- about the resolution process and the need process in Turkey, including priorities, needs but the implementation process should be

ping Policy for Peace’ series, which aims to to keep dialogue going despite challenging and expectations for peace. As in the previ- quick. In the concluding remarks, DPI’s CEO,

outline the benefits of peace for the country times. ous two meetings, participants comprised a Kerim Yildiz, highlighted that this series was

and boost public debate by discussing a con- By generating dialogue on the themes of diverse group of actors including academics, the first time that the lessons learnt from Tur-

crete peace agenda and action plans for the peace and conflict resolution in Turkey with artists, journalists, civil society actors from dif- key’s Peace Process have been discussed with

100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. political parties from each side of the politi- ferent regions, representing different political people from opposing sides, stating that it had

The second meeting of the series which was cal spectrum, local government leaders and affiliations in Turkey. The meeting was joined been crucial to hear from two key speakers in-

a closed meeting once again hosted by Sırrı policy makers, DPI seeks to bring into sharp by various political party representatives, in- volved in the Peace Process and despite all the

Süreyya Önder, and comprised of former HDP focus the possible paths to peace shortcomings and the challenges, they both

MP and Adnan Boynukara, former AK Party MP according to each party as well as still believe that peace is achievable in Turkey.

as speakers, two figures who were directly in- their relation to each other. Indeed, These speakers have created further space for

volved in Turkey’s Solution Process that took feedback from participants indicat- the possible public discussion on the necessity

place between 2011 – 2015. Drawing from their ed an interest in maintaining a more of the Kurdish resolution and democratisation.

first-hand experiences, in the second meeting structured and in-depth analysis of By engaging the wide spectrum of political

of the series, they focused on the shortcom- the previous resolution process as parties in Turkey and generating dialogue on

ings of the Solution Process and lessons that the basis for dialogue and normali- the themes of peace and conflict resolution,

can be drawn from them. The discussion cre- sation in Turkey. DPI attempted to shed light onto the possible

ated a platform for further reflection, deepen- pathways to peace according to each party as

ing the conversation on the Peace Process in well as their relation to each other. Overall, the

Turkey. meeting will feed into concrete recommenda-

The role of the opposition parties at the time tions for action in the field of conflict resolution

as well as the role of various state actors such and democratisation.

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 The Legal Basis for Peace: Youth’s Peace Memory
Constitution Making in Polarized Societies and Vision in Turkey II
10 August 2021 Istanbul, 11 September 2021

DPI held an online roundtable on 10 August, as DPI held its first in-person event since the start new participants to ensure continuity while
part of a series of meetings that aim to explore of the pandemic in Istanbul. The roundtable increasing diversity.
the debates on constitution making processes entitled ‘Youth’s Peace Money and Vision in Both institutions believe that young people’s
in polarised societies and the contribution such Turkey II’ was organised in cooperation with experience, perception, and vision of peace is
processes can have in conflict resolution. The on- the Istanbul Bilgi University Centre for Conflict an often overlooked but crucial topic. In a shift
line roundtable meeting was part of DPI’s series Resolution Studies and Research (CCR). The away from a discourse that tends to charac-
titled ‘Legal Basis for Peace’ that focuses on the meeting brought together a diverse group of terise youth as contributing to conflict, the val-
legal foundations of peace in order to promote youth participants with professional and po- ue of youth as resources and agents for peace
the role of legal foundations as part of conflict litical backgrounds from across Turkey, in- and development is increasingly appreciat-
resolution efforts. cluding the representatives from the youth ed. The active and meaningful participation
The event’s keynote speaker, Albie Sachs, a for- branches of different political parties, social of youth in conflict resolution is important for
mer Judge of the Constitutional Court of South workers, young academics, journalists, stu- both principled and pragmatic reasons. Not
Africa, has played an instrumental role in the cre- dents, representatives of civil society and art- only do youth, like other sectors of the pop-
ation of South Africa’s Constitution following the ists. The group included both reoccurring and ulation, enjoy participatory rights, including
end of the Apartheid regime and the creation of resilience of the democratic institutions in South
a constitutional democracy in the country. In his Africa today. The speaker highlighted the impor-
presentation, Sachs shared his experiences sur- tance of having a clear vision, continuous consul-
rounding the drafting of the South African Bill of tation and involvement of various sectors of so-
Rights and explained how the creation of a new ciety, diversity within the Constitutional Court and
constitution fit into the larger peacebuilding pro- an open and transparent process. The discussion
cess. He offered valuable insights as to how con- over what comprises a successful constitutional
stitution making can be successful in a divided making process in a segregated society serves
society, and how this process can contribute to as a source of inspiration for future constitution
the peacebuilding process in Turkey. Sachs pro- making efforts in Turkey, showing that although
vided his first-hand account in the creation of the the process is highly difficult, it is attainable.
Bill of Rights, which would protect people on the Though constitutional reform and peace pro-
basis of humanity, not on the grounds of race. cesses are fundamentally different, it is possible
During the course of the event, participants were to have constitutional reform in states without
given the opportunity to discuss the role of the conflict and also possible to have peace agree-
constitution-making process in South Africa in ments without a guarantee of constitutional re-
promoting peace and equality, and explore the form. Many peace processes have struggled to
legal preparations needed for the possible re- make or include agreements on constitutional
sumption of a resolution process in Turkey. The change. Constitutional reform, when integrated
discussion session touched upon many aspects with ongoing peace processes, usually provides
of the constitution in South Africa, both past and for a better, more sustainable peace. In some
present, highlighting topics such as the role of cases, peace agreements may overturn con-
women in the constitution making process, the stitutions and create new ones, as occurred in
importance of an independent judiciary and the South Africa at the end of Apartheid.

24 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 25
 “Digital Citizenship in Turkey:
Opportunities and Challenges for
Peace and Democratisation”
Online, 27 October 2021

and Europe, as the population in the 15-29

age group amounts to 23.2 percent of Turkey’s
population. Therefore, 16 percent of the votes
in the next elections will be the younger de-
mographic. Therefore, any political attempts
to address the Kurdish Issue needs to take the
youth into account.
The initial feedback from the roundtable in-
dicates that participants appreciate the op-
portunity to have face-to-face meetings, ex-
the right to have a say in matters affecting pressing that the side meetings and in person
them, they can also bring valuable and often contact has allowed them to form much more
unique insights and perspectives to a conflict meaningful connections and have deeper On 27 October, an online roundtable took place media can be used as an effective tool to bring
situation and contribute to the development conversations with other participants. Recur- and constituted the third meeting in DPI’s series people together, but it can also exacerbate ten-
of effective solutions. Raising awareness and ring participants who have had a chance to of activities focused on the role of new technol- sions within society and widen polarisation. Im-
understanding amongst youth of conflict res- participate in DPI’s pre-pandemic Compar- ogies in the Peace Process, in collaboration with portantly, the concept of citizenship itself must
olution norms, approaches and practice is ative Study Visits (CSVs) to Scotland, Ireland Oxford University. The aim of this series was to adapt to reflect the increasing relevance of
therefore fundamental to any inclusive reso- and Wales also expressed that while discuss- engage participants in the theory and practice digital technologies to daily life in the modern
lution process. ing their vision and strategies for peace in behind the growing role that technology can era. The aim of efforts to apply citizenship prin-
Turkey is one of the countries with the high- Turkey, they were referencing the knowledge play to support, enhance and sustain peace ciples and standards to the digital sphere – or a
est percentage of young people in the world that they had gained through the CSVs. and democratisation in Turkey and in the world. practice of ‘Digital Citizenship’ – is to promote a
The meeting brought together diverse profes- fairer and more beneficial internet for all. Digital
sional and political backgrounds from across citizenship can be understood as an awareness
Turkey, including political party’s representa- and internalisation of the standards and norms,
tives, civil society workers, journalists and aca- rights and responsibilities associated with the
demics. This third online roundtable discussed use of digital technologies and the internet.
the main findings of the ‘Digital Citizenship in During the roundtable, the speakers stressed
Turkey’ report, a joint effort of the University of the importance of supporting literacy among
Oxford, Oxford Centre for Technology and De- the general population and argued for an in-
velopment LTD (OCTD), Facebook and INGEV creased awareness of digital technologies
(Human Development Foundation). The round- among policymakers, politicians, lawyers and
table explored the relationship between digi- civil society actors. Ultimately, participants and
tal citizenship and peacebuilding by analysing speakers agreed that in relation to the pros-
the impact of issues such as fake news, hate pects of peace, social media poses more risks
speech, cyberwarfare and conspiracy theories. than opportunities. Yet, social media and digi-
In order for society to move forward towards tal technologies are expanding, so we need to
peace and democracy, people need to talk and consider which role digital technologies can
engage with each other. Technology and social play in each step of peace processes.

26 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 27
 “Celebrating Women’s Participation in Peace
and Conflict Resolution: Overcoming Challenges
and Putting Peace Back on the Agenda”
Online, 5 March 2021

COMPARATIVE On 5 March, DPI ran an online comparative and the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach cannot

STUDY VISITS
study event entitled ‘Celebrating Women’s be imposed in conflict resolution. Looking at
Participation in Peace and Conflict Resolu- other case studies allows participants to un-
tion: Overcoming Challenges and Putting derstand that despite the different setting,
Peace Back on the Agenda’. The event was country, and context; many groups, in this
held ahead of International Women’s Day case women, face similar grievances and is-
to celebrate the participation of women in sues due to conflict, and a reminder that the
peace and conflict resolution and look at inclusion of women in conflict resolution pro-
the different approaches and models used cesses is key to peace.
to further the Women, Peace and Security The event brought together a diverse group
Agenda. The event had Miriam Coronel-Fer- of political and civil society actors from dif-
rer, former chairperson of the peace panel of ferent regions, representing the broad spec-
the Government of the Philippines & Dr Emma trum of different political affiliations in Turkey.
Leslie, Executive Director, Centre for Peace & They included elected representatives and
Conflict Studies, as keynote speakers. members of political parties, heads and rep-
By engaging with and hearing the first-hand resentatives of human rights organisations
experiences of female leaders in conflict res- and think tanks, lawyers, businesswomen,
olution, participants were given the opportu- media professionals, youth representatives
nity to discuss the role of women in contrib- and academics. The online CSV forms part
uting to dialogue and peace, particularly on of a larger series of activities planned in the
what can be done in challenging times where context of the project: “Forging Pathways to
a process is facing obstacles or stalled. DPI Peace and Democracy in Turkey’’, supported
recognises that each conflict is different by the Norwegian and Irish government.

DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 29

 “Communicating Peace and Enhancing Reverse Comparative Study Visit on Peace
Dialogue: Reconsidering the Role of Media Dividends: Beyond National Borders’, in
in Conflict Resolution” Collaboration with Diyarbakır Chamber of
Istanbul, 23 October 2021 Commerce and Industry Istanbul, 6 November 2021

DPI held an in-person Reverse CSV entitled DPI held an in-person Reverse Comparative
‘Peace Dividends: Beyond National Borders’ on Study Visit (CSV) entitled ‘Peace Dividends: Be-
6 November in Istanbul, in collaboration with yond National Borders’ on 6 November in Istan-
the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and bul, in collaboration with Diyarkabır Chamber of
Industry. The event was the second meeting Commerce and Industry (DTSO). The event was
organised in collaboration under the series the second meeting organised under the series
title ‘Mapping Dividends for Peace in Turkey’. titled ‘Mapping dividends of peace in Turkey’, a
The event also aimed to contribute to the series that aims to explore the interconnected
debate on the economic rationale for peace relationship between conflict, peace and the
in Turkey by exploring the costs of the con- economy through the lessons learned from rel-
flict and potential dividends for peace. The evant international experiences – in this case
meeting brought together a diverse group of of both opportunities and challenges. In his the Northern Irish experience. The event also
businesspeople, including heads of Cham- presentation, Bowcott touched upon issues aimed to contribute to the debate on the eco-
bers of Commerce and Industry and various such as desensitisation towards and normal- nomic rationale for peace in Turkey by exploring
business associations, based in Eastern and isation of violence; problems regarding stim- the costs of the conflict and potential dividends Our keynote speaker Dermot Ahern, former Min-
South-Eastern regions, as well as civil socie- ulating interest among new editors and read- of peace. ister of Foreign Affairs from the Republic of Ire-
ty actors and political party representatives ers in England, who had grown disinterested The meeting brought together a diverse group land, discussed his reflections as a prominent
responsible for economy. The group included after decades of violence; journalists being of businesspeople, including heads of cham- politician in the Northern Ireland peace process
both reoccurring and new participants to en- tapped as well mes to navigate speculation bers of commerce and industry and various experience living near the border. He shared
sure continuity while increasing diversity. about secrets talks as a journalist. business associations, based in Eastern and with the group the role that business commu-
Our keynote speaker Owen Bowcott, former Bowcott also talked in detail about the choice South-eastern regions, as well as civil socie- nities and economic incentives could play to
Ireland correspondent for The Guardian, dis- of language as a journalist. Overall, the re- ty actors and political party representatives generate public support for peace. Ahern also
cussed his first-hand experience as a journal- verse CSV proved to be timely, given recent responsible for economy. The group included talked about the effect peace has had on the
ist reporting the Troubles in Northern Ireland developments and the growing momentum both reoccurring and new participants to en- social and economic conditions of the island of
and shared with the group the role that the for the Kurdish Issue, and provided the media sure continuity while increasing diversity. Ireland.
media can play in promoting peace, in terms group with a platform to hear from a journal-
ist’s first-hand experiences from the Northern
Ireland case and an opportunity to discuss
their own experiences. To date, the media in
Turkey has played a more reactive role, fo-
cusing on the Kurdish Issue only when politi-
cians made statements on the matter. In this
roundtable, we would like to focus on how the
media can make use of this momentum and
play a meaningful role in starting and sus-
taining a well-rounded public debate that
goes beyond reporting on statements made
by politicians.

30 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 31
 Comparative Study Visit on Civil Society’s
Priorities for Peace: A Lesson Sharing Visit
3-6 December 2021

From 3 to 6 December, DPI held a compar- ty representatives from Turkey to discuss the challenging times. The recurring themes are Glencree Centre were among the speakers.
ative study visit entitled ‘Civil Society’s Pri- priorities of civil society for peace, through those of inclusivity, perseverance, and dia- In the second part of the event, the partic-
orities for Peace: A Lesson Sharing Visit’ in exposure to the Northern Ireland experience. logue. ipants discussed Turkey’s previous peace
Dublin, Ireland. The planned visit, which was Due to travel limitations from COVID-19, this Participants engaged in a wide range of ses- process and explored how civil society can
supported by the Irish Department of For- visit was held in the Republic of Ireland, where sions which saw them interact with speakers play a meaningful role on issues pertaining
eign Affairs, was the first in-person event in the CSV and RT format was used as it allows involved in the Northern Ireland peace pro- peace and conflict resolution. Participants
Ireland since the start of the pandemic. The participation, comparison, mutual learning cess. Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, discussed the lessons learned from the lat-
visit brought together a multi-faceted group and dialogue on an equal basis. The event, as Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition Founder est peace process in Turkey, which they were
from diverse range of backgrounds including well as providing an overview of the process Amilla Kilmurray, Director of Changing Per- involved either as politicians or member of
members of civil society organisations, aca- in Northern Ireland, examined civil society’s spectives and founding member of Glencree wise people committee.
demics, journalists, lawyers and political par- engagement and priorities for peace during Centre Ian White, and Pat Hynes again from

32 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 33
 Constitutional Making Process
in Polarized Societies
16 July 2021

On 16 July, DPI held an online assessment Process, highlighting that there was a parlia-
meeting with Fazil Hüsnü Erdem, professor of mentary committee where representatives of

ASSESSMENT
constitutional law at Dicle University, and a all political parties had equal representation.
member of the Wise People’s Committee dur- He believes, even in the current polarised cli-
ing the Peace Process in Turkey. A productive mate of today, if the government takes steps
discussion took place, during which partici- towards reconciliation, the political tensions

MEETING pants engaged with the speaker on the pos-

sible positive and negative implications of the
constitution-making process on conflict reso-
in the country might significantly soften. This
could lead to another similar attempt, sug-
gesting that a change in attitude by the ruling
lution in detail, specifically in relation to Turkey. party is a key issue. DPI will continue to discuss
Erdem reminded the participants of the inclu- these issues in detail as part of DPI’s upcom-
sive constitutional making process attempt ing series on the legal foundations of peace.
in Turkey between 2011-2013 during the Peace

DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 35

 Dividends of Peace in Turkey What would
change in Turkey’s economy if the Kurdish
conflict was resolved?
23 August 2021
resolution. This meeting assessed the rela-
Briefing and Mentoring
tionship between the government and the
military, and its implications for a possible The aim of DPI’s Briefing and Mentoring meetings
peace process in Turkey. Bayramoğlu dis- is to support high-level dialogue through private
On 23 August, DPI held an online assessment a stable economy, a strong government is an
cussed the influential role that the military diplomacy and targeted advice by creating space
meeting with Izzet Akyol, a writer and researcher. undeniable factor. Akyol argued that calculat-
has played in Turkish politics as the rep- in which key actors, experts and institutions with-
The meeting was held as part of DPI’s regular as- ing the real cost of the conflict is a difficult topic,
resentative and protector of the Kemalist in Turkey may come together to discuss a wide
sessment meetings, inviting speakers represent- a matter that is arguably even unknown to the
state ideology. He explained that, for many range of issues pertaining to the resolution pro-
ing different political backgrounds to convey the state. Public spending could be calculated, but
decades, the military – Turkish Armed Forc- cess. These sessions specifically allow participants
ideas of various circles on contemporary issues the multiplier effect of the public expenditure is
es (TSK) – have imposed its policy prefer- (such as parliamentary chairs, government advis-
and ongoing discussions in Turkey, specifical- difficult to calculate. In his research, he proposed
ly on matters related to conflict resolution. The ences, interfering in politics when it deemed ers, policymakers, civil society and media figures)
four different areas to explain the cost of conflict
meeting assessed the economic situation in Tur- in Turkey: the evaporated security expenses of necessary, namely by organising military access to experts, such as mediators and advisers

key and its implications for the Peace Process in Turkey has caused economic deterioration; the coups or publishing memorandums that from international peace processes and parties to

Turkey. In these challenging times in Turkey, the tourism sector is essential for Turkey’s econo- were perceived as ultimatums. The mili- international peace agreements, with whom they
analysis of the direct and indirect costs of con- my because of the its multiplier effect, but has tary’s involvement in politics as the protec- can exchange experiences and lessons learnt on
flict is important for the economy-peace nex- been heavily hindered by the conflict; the Turk- tor of the Kemalist state also resulted in the the practical aspects of conflict resolution. The ses-
us. Izzet Akyol discussed the reason for why the ish model that tends to grow with international securitisation of the Kurdish Issue, making sions are directed towards policy makers, officials,
Kurdish Issue is at its core a political issue with loans is causing challenges that are difficult to the issue an untouchable topic for political parties and conditions conducive to resuming and
economic implications that can be traced back deal with within the institutional capacity of Tur- parties. establishing a robust and comprehensive peace
to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. He key; the normalisation of security practices such Bayramoğlu explored the history of the mil- process. This effective work has been impactful in
explained that Kurdish people feel betrayed due as extra security checks and additional securi- itary-government relationship, categoris- keeping open channels and dialogue concerning
to the attempts of homogenisation in Turkey’s ty personnel at airports and malls cause a de- ing his analysis into three historical periods: the resolution process in Turkey. Furthermore, the
social structure through state policies. crease in economic efficiency and an increase the traditional period and the start of “Mili- information discussed in these sessions can con-
Akyol talked about the conditions of having a in wasted ‘human capital’. Therefore, solving the tary Tutelage”; the fractures in the tutelage tribute to the production of private briefings which
strong economy based on political and econom- Kurdish Issue would have a direct effect on Tur- system between 2003-2016; and thirdly, the are disseminated to a limited audience including
ic predictability and the necessity of predictabili- key’s GDP. The session provided an opportunity period after the 15 July 2016 Coup attempt the Ministry. Due to the private nature of some of
ty as a significant factor in achieving stability. In for further discussion on the economic impacts in which Bayramoğlu argues there was a these sessions, it is not deemed appropriate to re-
order to attract foreign investment and to have of the conflict. period of demilitarisation. The assessment cord sessions or to ask stakeholders to complete
meeting provided participants with an op- monitoring and evaluation forms post sessions.
portunity to discuss the new ideology of the Therefore, evidence of the success of the indica-
TSK, the transformation into a security state tors for this outcome was gathered by direct in-

“The Military-Government Relationship

and the increased levels of securitisation, quiries by the DPI staff conducting the meetings
as well as the likelihood of democratisa- as to whether the stakeholders wanted to con-
in Turkey” Online, 29 September 2021 tion in Turkey considering the changes in tinue to participate in DPI’s briefing and mentor-
the system. There were also discussions ing sessions. Throughout the project, a record has
about the government’s expenditure on the been kept of the topics discussed in sessions and
On 29 September, DPI held an online assess- assessment meetings, inviting speakers rep- military, and what the effects of this might the type of stakeholders involved. The record dis-
ment meeting entitled ‘The Military – Govern- resenting different political backgrounds to be. DPI will continue to discuss these issues plays a wide variety of meetings and sessions held
ment Relationship in Turkey’ with Ali Bayramoğ- convey the ideas of various circles on contem- and debates on the military’s relationship during the reporting period in locations in different
lu, senior journalist and political commentator. porary issues and ongoing discussions in Tur- with the Turkish government, and the effect parts of Europe, Turkey, via telecom and through
The meeting was held as part of DPI’s regular key, specifically on matters related to conflict of this on the Turkish political landscape. online platforms.

36 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 37
 ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH
DPI’s panel of experts write leading briefings and assessments
of the conflict resolution process in Turkey and the wider region.
REPORTS IN 2021 You will find below a selection of assessments and research
reports which have been published by DPI in 2021.
Please note that these assessments do not necessarily reflect
DPI’s official position and opinions nor those of DPI’s funders.

Assessment on Turkey es Turkey’s current political climate as Assessment report: The The Influence of the AK-
and the Kurdish Issue: a contributor to the issue, providing an resolution of the Kurdish Party-MHP Relationship on
assessment of the strengths and lim-
Geopolitics and the Issue in Turkey – Choice or the Kurdish Issue and the
itations of the ruling power and other
possibility of a new Necessity Resolution Process by Ferda
opposition parties. It is indicated that
initiative by Dr. Osman Sert Balancar
the opposition is structurally and polit- This research examines the Kurdish
This assessment provides an analysis ically weak, and the various interviews Peace Process within Turkey, consider- This research is concerned with the
of the challenges faced by Turkey re- quoted in the report discuss a popular ing the historical origins of the Kurdish evolution and the internal dynamics of
garding solutions in the Kurdish Issue belief that only President Erdoğan can Issue, highlighting key events that led the People’s Alliance between the AK
and provides new insight to potential instigate change. to the 2008-2011 Oslo Process and the Party and the MHP, an alliance which
solutions. 2013-2015 Peace Process. The study played a decisive role in Turkish poli-
The author provides an overview of
Assessment report: The assesses both Peace Processes and tics in the last few years. In the context
Turkey’s previous attempts at a reso-
Legal Basis of a New Peace explores why both processes failed to of a potential new resolution process
lution process, namely the lack of po- in Turkey by Zeynep Ardic resolve the Kurdish Issue, considering regarding the Kurdish Issue, this re-
litical clarity, unity and structure, and the roles of major players and groups port looks at the possible outcomes of
This assessment explores the Turk-
highlights the importance of avoiding that had the greatest effects on the MHP’s relationship with both President
ish legal system’s ability to support a
similar problems in the future. These process. The report then turns towards Erdoğan and the AK Party. The report
peace process and provides an over-
issues, as well as the ruling power’s examining the future of the Kurdish analyses the attitudes of MHP, known to
view of the current laws in Turkey. This
refusal to recognise the Kurdish Issue, Peace Process in Turkey, considering be a doctrinaire nationalist party, with
engaging report assesses the com-
must be addressed to allow for a new the ongoing issues within Turkish pol- regard to a number of political devel-
patibility of legal texts with a potential
and permanent resolution process to itics and what effects any peace pro- opments that took place since 2002,
solution to the Kurdish Issue.
take place. cess may have upon them. when AK Party came into power, and
The role of past geopolitical develop- the policies it formulated. DPI would like
ments such as the Arab Spring and to express its thanks to the author for
the Syrian conflict are also discussed, producing this engaging research pa-
alongside the current prospects of- per.
fered by the new Biden administration
in the US. Moreover, the report address-

38 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 39
 The Military – Government The Impact of Four Decades The Idea of Peace and
Relationship in Turkey- by of Conflict on the Economy the Opposition in Turkish
Ali Bayramoğlu of Turkey – by Izzet Akyol Politics at the Beginning of
2022 by Ali Bayramoğlu
Ali Bayramoğlu explores the relation- This paper explores dividends of peace
ship between the government and in Turkey as well as analysing the effect In the report, Bayramoğlu looks ahead and the Good Party limit the potential
the military in Turkey, considering its of conflict on the economy growth of to the upcoming general election in of the opposition on this topic. In the
history and how it has shaped Turk- the country. Akyol provides a socio-po- Turkey and its possible effects on the meantime, Kılıçdaroğlu, who is a strong
ish affairs in recent years, including litical overview about the political and Kurdish Issue. While the authoritarian contender for presidential nomination,
the Kurdish Issue. This report examines economic rationalization in Turkey and and sectarian approach of the current has been formulating a new political
the hierarchy of the Turkish military, as examines literature from various oth- ruling power continues, the economic narrative in which the Kurdish Issue
well as levels of civilian oversight and er scholars in the field and presents crisis in Turkey has taken a significant and cooperation with the HDP play a
how it compares to other nations in the the argument that if the Kurdish Issue downturn. The economic woes in the crucial role. As such, it is becoming in-
West. Bayramoğlu also analyses the is resolved and sustainable peace is country have cost the ruling power po- creasingly likely that the CHP will lead
role of the Gülenist movement lead- brought to Turkey, Turkey will experi- litical prestige and could result in a loss the resolution process, both before and
ing to the 2016 coup attempt, which ence economic growth in various sec- of votes in the upcoming election. The after the elections.
marked a defining moment in the mil- tors, and bring political stability to the response pursued by the country’s cur-
itary-civilian relationship. In the report, country. The report offers examples of rent President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
Bayramoğlu provides a detailed anal- how the Kurdish conflict has negative- has been to promote a discourse cen-
ysis of the ‘Military Tutelage’ system ly influenced the economy, for exam- tred around a new future, nationalism
that has led to the unique relationship ple in Foreign Direct Investment, infra- and a strong, independent Turkey. In
between the Turkish Government and structure, tourism and has a significant addition to his discussion on the cur-
Military and considers what reforms human cost, not only in loss of life but rent ruling power, Mr Bayramoğlu also
have occurred that have changed the also in trauma that is carried for gen- discusses the opportunities for the op-
nature of this relationship. The report erations. Akyol presents figures to show position in the upcoming elections, and
also explains the current recruitment how resolving the Kurdish Issue in Tur- what this could mean for the future of
and composition of the Turkish military key will benefit the state, economically, the Kurdish Issue. Given the economic
and considers how this may affect any sociologically, and politically. crisis, popular support for the opposi-
future relationship changes between tion is naturally on the rise, and oppo-
the Government and Armed Forces, sition parties have become more polit-
such as potential politicisation and po- ically active. However, the opposition is
larisation. not unified on the Kurdish Issue, as dif-
ferences of opinion between the CHP

40 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 41
 Kerim Yildiz - Chief Executive Officer
Kerim is an expert in conflict resolution, peacebuilding,
international human rights law and minority rights, hav-
ing worked on numerous projects in these areas over his
career. Kerim has received a number of awards, includ-
ing from the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights for his
services to protect human rights and promote the rule of
law in 1996, and the Sigrid Rausing Trust’s Human Rights
award for Leadership in Indigenous and Minority Rights in
2005. Kerim is also a recipient of the 2011 Gruber Prize for
Justice. He has extensive experience in human rights and
actively works to raise awareness on human rights viola-
tions worldwide assisting with many cases to the Europe-

BOARD
an Court of Human Rights, conducting training seminars
in Europe and the Middle East, and regularly contributing
to seminars and conferences.

MEMBERS Nicholas Stewart - QC Chair

Nicholas Stewart, QC, is a barrister and Deputy High Court
Judge (Chancery and Queen’s Bench Divisions) in the
United Kingdom. He is the former Chair of the Bar Hu-
man Rights Committee of England and Wales and former
President of the Union Internationale des Avocats. He has
appeared at all court levels in England and Wales, before
the Privy Council on appeals from Malaysia, Singapore,
Hong Kong and the Bahamas, and in the High Court of the
Republic of Singapore and the European Court of Human
Rights. Stewart has also been the chair of the Dialogue
Advisory Group since its founding in 2008.

DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 43

 Priscilla Hayner Catherine Woollard
Priscilla Hayner is co-founder of the International Center Catherine Woollard is the Director of ECRE, the European
for Transitional Council for Refugees and Exiles, a pan-European alliance
Justice and is currently on the UN Department of Political of 104 NGOs which defend the rights of displaced persons
Affairs Standby Team of Mediation Experts. She is a global in Europe and in European foreign policies. She previous-
expert on truth commissions and transitional justice in- ly worked as Executive Director of the European Peace-
itiatives and has authored several books on these top- building Liaison Office (EPLO) – a Brussels-based network
ics, including Unspeakable Truths, which analyses truth of not-for-profit organisations working on conflict pre-
commissions globally. Hayner has recently engaged in vention and peacebuilding. She also held the positions
the recent Colombia talks as transitional justice advisor of Director of Policy, Communications and Comparative
to Norway, and in the 2008 Kenya negotiations as human Learning at Conciliation Resources, Senior Programme
rights advisor to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Coordinator (Southeast Europe/CIS/Turkey) at Transpar-
and the United Nations-African Union mediation team. ency International and Europe/Central Asia Programme
Hayner has also worked significantly in the implementa- Coordinator at Minority Rights Group International. Wool-
tion stages following a peace agreement or transition, lard has additionally worked as a consultant advising
including Sierra Leone in 1999 and South Sudan in 2015. governments on anti-corruption and governance reform,
as a lecturer in political science, and for the UK civil ser-
Arild Humlen vice.
Arild Humlen is a lawyer and Director of the Norwegian
Bar Association’s Legal Committee. He is widely pub- Antonia Potter Prentice
lished within a number of jurisdictions, with emphasis on Antonia Potter Prentice is the director of Alliance15, a stra-
international civil law and human rights, and he has lec- tegic alliance of globally active European based human-
tured at the law faculty of several universities in Norway. itarian and development organisations in Brussels.
Humlen is the recipient of the Honor Prize of the Bar Asso- She also provided her expertise as a Senior Advisor to the
ciation of Oslo for his work on the rule of law and in 2015 Dialogue Advisory Group, an organisation which aims to
he was awarded the Honor Prize from the international or- reduce violence between governments, armed groups
ganisation Save the Children for his efforts to strengthen and organisations through political dialogue.
the legal rights of children. He has also been presented Her extensive experience in conflict resolution allowed
with the Honor Prize from the Student Foundation at the her to become Senior Associate to the European Peace-
University Of Oslo , Legal Academy , for his work within the building Liaison Office as well as the Project Manager and
field of protection of Human Rights standards. He is also Senior Adviser for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
a former leader of the disciplinary Board in Oslo branch of (HD) project. Antonia Potter Prentice has supported gen-
the National Bar Association and also the former chair of der equality in peacebuilding during the ‘Women at the
the National Bar Association Legal Committee. Peace Table – Asia Pacific’ (2010-2013) and the Global
Network of Women Peacebuilders and Terre des Hommes.
Her career has led her to travel extensively in Asia (in-
cluding Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Ti-
mor-Leste).

44 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 45
 Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern is the former Taoiseach (Prime Minister)
of Ireland, a position to which he was elected following
numerous Ministerial appointments as well as that of
Deputy Prime Minister. A defining moment of Mr Ahern’s
three terms in office as Taoiseach was the successful
negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.
Mr Ahern held the Presidency of the European Council in
2004, presiding over the historic enlargement of the EU
to 27 member states. Since leaving Government in 2008
Mr Ahern has dedicated his time to conflict resolution
and is actively involved with many groups around the
world. Current roles include Co-Chair of The Inter Action
Council; Member of the Clinton Global Initiative; Member
of the International Group dealing with the conflict in the
Basque Country; Honorary Adjunct Professor of Mediation
and Conflict Intervention in NUI Maynooth; Member of the

COUNCIL Kennedy Institute of NUI Maynooth; Member of the Insti-

tute for Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin; Member of the Var-
key Gems Foundation Advisory Board; Member of Crisis

OF EXPERTS Management Initiative; Member of the World Economic

Forum Agenda Council on Negotiation and Conflict Res-
olution; Member of the IMAN Foundation; Advisor to the
Legislative Leadership Institute Academy of Foreign Af-
fairs; Senior Advisor to the International Advisory Coun-
cil to the Harvard International Negotiation Programme;
and Director of Co-operation Ireland.

Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern is a former Irish Member of Parliament and
Government Minister and was a key figure for more than
20 years in the Irish peace process, including in negotia-
tions for the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews
Agreement. He also has extensive experience at the EU
Council level, including as a key negotiator and signatory
to the Constitutional and Lisbon Treaties. In 2005, he was
appointed by the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
to be a Special Envoy on the issue of UN Reform.

DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 47

 Professor Dr. Aşkın Asan Professor Christine Bell
Prof. Dr. Aşkın Asan is an executive board member of the Professor Christine Bell is a legal expert based in Edin-
Maarif Foundation, a member of Turkey’s Democracy Plat- burgh, Scotland. She is Professor of Constitutional Law
form, and a faculty member at Istanbul Ticaret University. and Assistant Principal (Global Justice) at the University
Elected as a Member of the Turkish Grand National Assem- of Edinburgh, Co-director of the Global Justice Academy,
bly from Ankara, Prof. Dr. Asan served as a vice president of and a member of the British Academy. She was chairper-
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and was son of the Belfast-based Human Rights organization, the
a member of the Turkish Delegation of the Parliamentary Committee on the Administration of Justice from 1995-7,
Union of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference dur- and a founder member of the Northern Ireland Human
ing her time in parliamentary office. She is a former Deputy Rights Commission established under the terms of the
Minister of Family and Social Policies (2011-2014) and was Belfast Agreement. In 1999 she was a member of the Eu-
Rector of Avrasya University in Trabzon between 2014-2017. ropean Commission’s Committee of Experts on Funda-
In April 2019 she was elected as a member of the Group mental Rights. She is an expert on transitional justice,
of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and peace negotiations, constitutional law and human rights
Domestic Violence (GREVIO). law. She regularly conducts training on these topics for
diplomats, mediators and lawyers, has been involved as
Professor Dr. Mehmet Asutay a legal advisor in a number of peace negotiations, and
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asutay is a Professor of Middle Eastern acted as an expert in transitional justice for the UN Sec-
and Islamic Political Economy & Finance at the Durham retary-General, the Office of the High Commissioner for
University Business School, UK. He researches, teaches Human Rights, and UNIFEM.
and supervises research on Islamic political economy
and finance, Middle Eastern economic development and Oral Çalışlar
finance, the political economy of Middle East, including Oral Çalışlar completed his studies at the Ankara Uni-
Turkish and Kurdish political economies. He is the Director versity Faculty of Political Sciences. Was President of
of Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance and the Club of Socialist Thought at the university, as well
the Managing Editor of the Review of Islamic Economics, as Secretary-General of the Ankara University Student
as well as Associate Editor of the American Journal of Is- Union. Wrote for Türk Solu journal which was launched
lamic Social Science. He is the Honorary Treasurer of the in 1967 and for the Aydınlık journal which was launched
BRISMES (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies); and in 1968. Was member of the editorial board of Aydınlık
of the IAIE (International Association for journal. Was arrested after the 12th of March 1971 mili-
Islamic Economics). tary coup. Remained imprisoned for three years until the
Amnesty law adopted in 1974. Was Editor in Chief for the
Ali Bayramoğlu Aydınlık daily newspaper launched in 1978. Was arrest-
Ali Bayramoğlu is a writer and political commentator. ed again after the 12th of September 1980 military coup
Since 1994, he has contributed as a columnist for a variety and released in August 1988 after four years in prison.
of newspapers. He is currently a columnist for daily Karar. Lived in Hamburg between 1990 and 1992 upon the invi-
He is a member of the Wise Persons Committee in Turkey, tation of the Senate of Hamburg. Worked for Cumhuri-
established during the peace process between 2013-2015. yet daily between 1992 and 2008. Broadcast television

48 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 49
 programmes on different channels, including TRT, 24TV, an Honorary Fellow of Practice at the School of Law, Uni-
360, and SKYTÜRK. Transferred from Cumhuriyet daily versity of Edinburgh. He serves as an adviser to a number
to Radikal daily in 2008. Between 2004-2007, he was in of peacebuilding initiatives including the Inclusive Peace
board of Turkish Journalists Association. He has a per- and Transition Initiative at the Graduate Institute in Ge-
manent press card. Became Editor in Chief for Taraf dai- neva, the Legal Tools for Peace-Making Project in Cam-
ly in 2013. Was part of the Wise People Committee in the bridge, and the Oxford Research Group in London.
same year. Later had to leave Taraf daily alongside Halil
Berktay, Alper Görmüş, Vahap Coşkun, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Dr. Vahap Coşkun
Mithat Sancar, and Yıldıray Oğur, among others, after Dr. Vahap Coşkun is a Professor of Law at University of
the intervention of the Gülen Congregation. Returned to Dicle in Diyarbakır where he also completed his bach-
Radikal daily. Started writing for Posta daily after 2016, elor’s and master’s degrees in law. Coşkun received his
when Radikal was discontinued. Continues work as a PhD from Ankara University Faculty of Law. He has written
commentator on TV news channels. Has 20 published for Serbestiyet and Kurdistan24 online newspaper. He has
books, including The Leaders’ Prison, Hz. Ali, Mamak published books on human rights, constitutional law, po-
Prison from the 12th of March to 12th of September, The litical theory and social peace. Coşkun was a member of
Kurdish Issue with Öcalan and Burkay, My 68 Memoirs, the Wise Persons Committee in Turkey in the team that
The Alevis, When Deniz and Friends Were Executed, My was responsible for the Central Anatolian Region.
Childhood in Tarsus, The History of Gulenism. Recipient
of a large number of journalism and research awards. Ayşegül Doğan
Married (1976) to author and journalist İpek Çalışlar. Fa- Ayşegül Doğan is a journalist who has conducted inter-
ther of author Reşat Çalışlar. views, created news files and programmes for independ-
ent news platforms. She studied at the Faculty of Cultural
Cengiz Çandar Mediation and Communications at Metz University, and
Cengiz Çandar is currently a columnist for Al-Monitor, a Paris School of Journalism. As a student, she worked at the
widely respected online magazine that provides analy- Ankara bureau of Agence-France Presse (AFP), the Paris
sis on Turkey and the Middle East. He is an expert on the bureau of Courier International and at the Kurdish service
Middle East and former war correspondent. He served as of The Voice of America. She worked as a programme
special adviser to former Turkish president Turgut Ozal. creator at Radyo Ekin, and as a translator-journalist for
Cengiz Çandar is a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the the Turkish edition of Le Monde Diplomatique. She was a
Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies (SUITS). lecturer at the Kurdology department of National Insti-
tute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris. She
Andy Carl worked on political communications for a long time. From
Andy Carl is an independent expert on conflict resolution its establishment in 2011 to its closure in 2016, she worked
and public participation in peace processes. He believes as a programmes coordinator at IMC TV. She prepared
that building peace is not an act of charity but an act and presented the programme “Gündem Müzakere” on
of justice. He co-founded and was Executive Director of the same channel. Currently Doğan is a TV Programmer
Conciliation Resources. Previously, he was the first Pro- at Yeniden TV.
gramme Director with International Alert. He is currently

50 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 51
 Vegard Ellefsen Reconciliation Commission of Peru (2001-2003) and he is
Vegard Ellefsen is a Norwegian diplomat who retired 31 Au- the author of several publications linked to human rights
gust 2019 from the foreign service when he left his last post- issues and some articles and essays on philosophy, high
ing as ambassador to Ankara. He has been twice posted to education, globalization and government.
NATO both as Permanent representative on the North At-
lantic Council and deputy to the same position. He has ear- Professor Mervyn Frost
lier been posted to the Norwegian mission to the U.N. in New Mervyn Frost is Professor of International Relations in the
York and to the Embassy in Ottawa. In the Norwegian Min- Department of War Studies at King’s College, London and
istry of foreign affairs he has been Political Director, Director is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics
General for the Regional division, Director of the Minister’s and International Relations at the University of Johannes-
secretariat and special envoy to the Sudan peace talks and burg in South Africa. In 2019 he spent three months as the
special envoy to Syria and Iraq. Mr. Ellefsen has a Master in Distinguished Visiting Professor of International Ethics at
Political Science from the University of Oslo. the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Austral-
ia and at the Australian Defence Force Academy. He has
Professor Dr. Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem written extensively on ethics and international relations.
Professor Dr. Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem is Professor of Constitution- His recent work, with Dr Silviya Lechner, is focused on the
al Law and Head of the Department of Constitutional Law “practice turn” in International Relations resulting in two
at Dicle University,Diyarbakır. In 2007, Erdem was a member publications: “Two Conceptions of International Practice:
of the commission which was established to draft a new Aristotelian praxis or Wittgensteinian language-games?”
constitution to replace the Constitution of 1982 which was Review of International Studies Volume 42 / Issue 02 /
introduced following the coup d’etat of 1980. Erdem was a April 2016, pp 334 – 350. “Understanding international re-
member of the Wise Persons Committee in Turkey, estab- lations from the internal point of view” July 2015, Journal
lished by then Prime Minister Erdoğan, in the team that was of International Political Theory. p. 1-21. Their co-authored
responsible for the South-eastern Anatolia Region. book Practice Theory and International Relations, was
published by CUP in September 2018. His earlier books in-

Professor Dr. Salomón Lerner Febres clude Ethics and International Relations (CUP, 1996), Hu-

Salomon Lerner Febres is Docteur en philosophie by the man Rights in a World of States (Routledge, 2002); Global

Université Catholique de Louvain and BA in Law by the Ethics (Routledge, 2009); and an edited 4 volume refer-

Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) School of ence work International Ethics (Sage 2012).

Law. He has been the Rector (President) of the PUCP since

1994 to 2004. Currently, he is Rector Emeritus and Presi- David Gorman
dent emeritus of the Institute for Democracy and Human David Gorman, Director, Eurasia, David has more than 25
Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (IDEH- years of experience in the field of peacemaking. He start-
PUCP); and Professor of Philosophy, Education, Ethics and ed his career in the Middle East and he went on to work for
Methodology of the same university. Furthermore, he is international organisations on a wide range of conflicts
the Chairman of the Board of the Peruvian Film Institute around the world. David has been based in the Philip-
and the President of the Lima Philharmonic Society. Also, pines, Indonesia, Liberia, Bosnia as well as the West Bank
doctor Lerner has been the President of the Truth and and Gaza and has been working in Eurasia for the last

52 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 53
 several years. He graduated from the London School of Kezban Hatemi
Economics, was featured in the award winning film ‘Miles Kezban Hatemi received her bachelor’s degree in Law
and War’ as well as several publications and has pub- from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. She, as a registered
lished several articles on mediation. lawyer to the Istanbul Bar Association, started to work as
a self-employed lawyer. She has published several arti-
Dr. Edel Hughes cles in the field of law. Her areas of interests are human
Dr. Edel Hughes is a Lecturer in Law at the School of Law, Na- rights, women’s rights, minority rights, children’s rights, an-
tional University of Ireland, Galway. Prior to joining NUI Gal- imal rights and the fight against drugs. She participated
way, Dr. Hughes was a Senior Lecturer in Law at Middlesex in various conferences and symposiums on these sub-
University and previously worked at the University of East jects. Moreover, she has been participating in various na-
London and the University of Limerick. She was awarded an tional and international conferences and symposiums as
LL.M. and a PhD in International Human Rights Law from the a speaker regarding Turkey’s democratization, women’s
National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2003 and 2009, re- rights, and the Turkey’s main problem Kurdish issue. She
spectively. Her research interests are in the areas of interna- was involved in drafting the Turkish Civil Code and Law of
tional human rights law, public international law, and con- Foundations. She was particularly involved in preparing
flict transformation, with a regional interest in Turkey and the the legal groundwork for the Christian and Jewish Com-
Middle East. She has published widely on these areas. munity problems, Community Foundations and its prob-
lems. She submitted individual reports. She was involved
Martin Griffiths in drafting Religious Freedoms and Minorities and Com-
Martin Griffiths is a senior international mediator and cur- munity Foundations within the Framework Law of Harmo-
rently the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitari- nization prepared by Turkey alongside with Secretariat
an Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the General for European Union Affairs and European Union
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) after previ- Commission Turkey Desk. She sits on the Board of Trustees
ously serving as the UN’s Envoy to Yemen. From 1999 to 2010 of the Technical University and the Darulacaze Foundation.
he was the founding Director of the Centre for Humanitari- In 1995, she joined “Humanity Initiative for Bosnia” and after
an Dialogue in Geneva where he specialised in developing her return from Bosnia she participated in various confer-
political dialogue between governments and insurgents in ences and symposiums as a speaker in order to keep the
a range of countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. He is a problem on the agenda and speed up the aid process. She
co-founder of Inter Mediate, a London based NGO devot- took an active role in aid campaigns for Bosnia. In Turkey
ed to conflict resolution, and has worked for international National Commission for UNESCO’s XXIII term, she worked
organisations including UNICEF, Save the Children, Action as the vice president in the Specialized Dialogue Commit-
Aid, and the European Institute of Peace. Griffiths has also tee on Dialogue of Civilizations studies. She was appointed
worked in the British Diplomatic Service and for the UN, as the deputy president of the former Turkey Wise Persons
including as Director of the Department of Humanitarian Committee Southeast Group, which was one of the impor-
Affairs (Geneva), Deputy to the Emergency Relief Coordi- tant mechanisms established in order to achieve a lasting
nator (New York), Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for peace in the democratization and solution process. She is
the Great Lakes, Regional Coordinator in the Balkans and a member of Democratic Progress Institute’s Council of Ex-
Deputy Head of the Supervisory Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). perts and she is the president of the Democracy Platform.

54 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 55
 Kadir İnanır tor of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (1994-
Kadir İnanır was born in 1949 Fatsa, Ordu. He is an acclaimed 2014). Avila was born and educated in Dublin, completing BA
actor and director, and has starred in well over a hundred (History & Politics) University College Dublin. She received a
films. He has won several awards for his work in Turkish cin- MA (International Relations) from Australian National Uni-
ema. He graduated from Marmara University Faculty of versity and completed a PhD (Department of Law) in Queens
Communication. In 2013 he became a member of the Wise University Belfast, where she was later awarded a Hon. Doc-
Persons Committee for the Mediterranean region. torate in Social Science. Avila has involvement in communi-
ty development, the Women’s Movement and philanthropy

Professor Dr. Ahmet İnsel in Northern Ireland since 1975. Prior to her position with CFNI,

Professor Ahmet İnsel is a former faculty member of Gal- Avila was the first Women’s Officer with the Amalgamated

atasaray University in Istanbul, Turkey and Paris 1 Panthéon Transport & General Workers’ Union (Ireland), serving on the

Sorbonne University, France. He is Managing Editor of the Board of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council

Turkish editing house, Iletisim, and member of the editorial (1994-1997), the Industrial Development Board (NI) and the

board of monthly review, Birikim. He is a regular columnist Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). She has long been

at Cumhuriyet newspaper and an author who published involved with a range of peacebuilding initiatives, as well as

several books and articles in both Turkish and French. work on poverty, women’s issues and social need. A founder
member of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition in 1996,
Avila served on the Coalition’s Negotiating Team for the
Aleka Kessler
Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. She was a founder mem-
Aleka Kessler works as Project Officer at the Centre for
ber of the Foundations for Peace Network, and currently
Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). Having joined HD in 2017 to
serves as Director of the St. Stephen’s Green Trust as well as
work on Syria, Aleka has been coordinating mediation
being a co-optee on the Ireland Committee of the Joseph
project in complex conflict settings. Previously, Aleka also
Rowntree Charitable Trust and a Board Member of the In-
worked with Médecins Sans Frontières and the United
ternational Fund for Ireland. Avila has written extensively on
Nations Association Mexico. She holds a degree in Inter-
community action, peacebuilding and women’s rights. She
national Relations from the University of Geneva and a
has published a book – ‘Community Action in a Contested
Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Grad-
Society: The Story of Northern Ireland’ (Peter Lang, 2016) and
uate Institute of International and Development Studies
‘Conflict-Affected Environments: Notes for Grantmakers’ –
in Geneva, where she specialized in humanitarian affairs,
(www.thesocialchangeinitiative.org). Avila lives in Belfast
negotiation and
and is married with three children and two grandchildren.
conflict resolution.

Avila Kilmurray Professor Ram Manikkalingam

Ram Manikkalingam is founder and director of the Di-
Avila Kilmurray is currently managing the Migration Learn-
alogue Advisory Group, based in Amsterdam. He also
ing Exchange programme with The Social Change Initiative
teaches politics at the University of Amsterdam. He has
(www.thesocialchangeinitiative.org) and working on phi-
been involved in efforts to reduce violence and promote
lanthropy and peacebuilding. Avila was previously Direc-
reconciliation in Northern Iraq, Libya, the Basque Country
tor of Policy & Strategy with the Global Fund for Community
and Northern Ireland, among other situations. Following
Foundations (2014-2016), having held the position of Direc-

56 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 57
 the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, he served as an inde- Hanne Melfald
pendent expert to the National Security Advisory Board by Hanne Melfald worked with the Norwegian Ministry of For-
the then President. He was also assisting the government eign Affairs for eight years including as the Senior Adviser
in Sri Lanka on reconciliation. Previously, he was Sen- to the Secretariat of the Foreign Minister of Norway before
ior Advisor on the peace process to then President Ku- she became a Project Manager in HD’s Eurasia office in
maratunga of Sri Lanka. He has served as an Advisor with 2015. She previously worked for the United Nations for six
Ambassador rank at the Sri Lanka Mission to the United years including two years with the United Nations Assis-
Nations in New York. Prior to that he led the Rockefeller tance Mission in Afghanistan as Special Assistant to the
Foundation’s program on international security Special Representative of the Secretary-General. She has
also worked for the United Nations Office for the Coordina-
Bejan Matur tion of Humanitarian Affairs in Nepal and Geneva, as well
Bejan Matur is a renowned Turkey-based author and poet. as for the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Norwegian
She has published ten works of poetry and prose. In her Directorate of Immigration. Melfald has a degree in Inter-
writing she focuses mainly on Kurdish politics, the Arme- national Relations from the University of Bergen and the
nian issue, minority issues, prison literature and women’s University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as a Mas-
rights. She has won several literary prizes and her work has ter’s degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo.
been translated into over 28 languages. She was formerly
Director of the Diyarbakır Cultural Art Foundation (DKSV). Roelf Meyer
Meyer is currently a consultant on international peace
Professor Monica McWilliams processes having advised parties in Northern Ireland,
Professor Monica McWilliams teaches in the Transition- Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Burundi, Iraq, Kosovo, the Basque Re-
al Justice Institute at Ulster University in Northern Ire- gion, Guyana, Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, and South Su-
land. She currently serves on a three-person panel es- dan. Meyer’s experience in international peace processes
tablished by the Northern Ireland government to make stems from his involvement in the settlement of the South
recommendations on the disbandment of paramilitary African conflict in which he was the government’s chief
organisations in Northern Ireland. During the Northern negotiator in constitutional negotiations with the ANC’s
Ireland peace process, Prof. McWilliams co-founded the chief negotiator and current South African President, Cyril
Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition political party and Ramaphosa. Negotiating the end of apartheid and paving
was elected as a delegate to the Multi-Party Peace Ne- the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994,
gotiations, which took place in 1996 to 1998. She was also Meyer continued his post as Minister of Constitutional Af-
elected to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland fairs in the Cabinet of the new President, Nelson Mandela.
Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2003. Prof. McWilliams Meyer retired as a Member of Parliament and as the Gaut-
is a signatory of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and eng leader of the National Party in 1996 and co-founded
has chaired the Implementation Committee on Human the United Democratic Movement (UDM) political party
Rights on behalf of the British and Irish governments. For the following year. Retiring from politics in 2000, Meyer has
her role in delivering the peace agreement in Northern since held a number of international positions, including
Ireland, Prof. McWilliams was one recipient of the John F. membership of the Strategy Committee of the Project on
Kennedy Leadership and Courage Award Justice in Times of Transition at Harvard University.

58 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 59
 Mark Muller QC Senior Legal Adviser and then the first Director of the Office
Mark Muller, QC, is a senior advocate at Doughty Street of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in
Chambers (London) and the Scottish Faculty of Advocates The Hague. In 2012 – 2014, Prof. Packer was a Constitutions
(Edinburgh) where he specialises in public international and Process Design Expert on the United Nation’s Standby
law and human rights. Muller is also currently on the UN Team of Mediation Experts attached to the Department
Department of Political Affairs Standby Team of Mediation of Political Affairs, advising in numerous peace process-
Experts and is the UN Special Envoy to Syria in the Syrian es and political transitions around the world focusing on
peace talks. He has many years’ experience of advising conflict prevention and resolution, diversity manage-
numerous international bodies, such as Humanitarian Di- ment, constitutional and legal reform, and the protection
alogue (Geneva) and Inter-Mediate (London) on conflict of human rights.
resolution, mediation, confidence-building, ceasefires,
power-sharing, humanitarian law, constitution-making Jonathan Powell
and dialogue processes. Muller also co-founded Beyond Jonathan Powell is the founder and CEO of Inter Mediate,
Borders and the Delfina Foundation. an NGO devoted to conflict resolution around the world.
In 2014, Powell was appointed by former Prime Minister
Avni Özgürel David Cameron to be the UK’s Special Envoy to Libya. He
Mehmet Avni Özgürel is a Turkish journalist, author and also served as Tony Blair’s Chief of Staff in opposition from
screenwriter. Having worked in several newspapers such as 1995 to 1997 and again as his Chief of Staff in Downing
Daily Sabah and Radikal, Özgürel is currently the editor in Street from 1997 to 2007. Prior to his involvement in British
chief of Yeni Birlik and a TV programmer at TRT Haber. He is politics, Powell was the British Government’s chief nego-
the screenwriter of the 2007 Turkish film, Zincirbozan, on the tiator on Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007 and played a
1980 Turkish coup d’état, Sultan Avrupa’da (2009), on Sul- key part in leading the peace negotiations and its imple-
tan Abdülaziz’s 1867 trip to Europe; and Mahpeyker (2010): mentation. His books include: ‘Great Hatred, Little Room:
Kösem Sultan, on Kösem Sultan. He is also the screenwrit- Making Peace In Northern Ireland’ , ‘The New Machiavelli,
er and producer of 2014 Turkish film, Darbe (Coup), on the How to Wield Power in the Modern World’ and ‘Talking To
February 07, 2012 Turkish intelligence crisis. In 2013 he was Terrorists, How To End Armed Conflict’.
appointed a member of the Wise Persons Committee in
Turkey established by then Prime Minister Erdoğan. Sir Kieran Prendergast
Sir Kieran Prendergast is a former British diplomat who
Professor John Packer served as the Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs
Professor John Packer is Associate Professor of Law and at the United Nations from 1997 to 2005, as High Com-
Director of the Human Rights Research and Education missioner to Kenya from 1992 to 1995 and to Zimbabwe
Centre (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa in Canada. from 1989 to 1992. Sir Kieran was also British Ambassa-
Prof. Packer has worked for inter-governmental organi- dor to Turkey from 1995 to 1997. He speaks Turkish. Since
sations for over 20 years, including in Geneva for the UN his retirement from the UN, he has conducted research
High Commissioner for Refugees, the International La- at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
bour Organisation, and for the UN High Commissioner for (Harvard) and is a member of the Advisory Council of In-
Human Rights. From 1995 to 2004, Prof. Packer served as dependent Diplomat (United States). Prendergast also

60 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 61
 holds a number of positions, including President of the Mehmet Ufuk Uras
British Association of Former UN Civil Servants, Trustee of Dr Mehmet Ufuk Uras is a co-founder and member of so-
the Beit Trust, and Senior Adviser at the Centre for Hu- cial liberal Greens and the Left Party of the Future, found-
manitarian Dialogue ed as a merger of the Greens and the Equality and De-
mocracy Party. He was previously a former leader of
Rajesh Rai the now-defunct University Lecturers’ Union (Öğretim
Rajesh Rai is a barrister called in 1993 to Lincolns Inn and Elemanları Sendikası) and was elected the chairman of
practices at the Chambers of John Benson Q. C. where Freedom and Solidarity Party in 1996. Ufuk resigned from
he is joint deputy head of chambers (www.1mcb.com). In the leadership after the 2002 general election. Ufuk ran
this time; he has been Director of Joint Council for Wel- a successful campaign as a “common candidate of
fare of Immigrants (www.jcwi.org.uk), Director and treas- the Left”, standing on the independents’ ticket, backed
urer of the Kurdish Human Rights Project (www.khrp.org), by Kurdish-based Democratic Society Party and sever-
founded and acted as a director of Global Legal Technol- al left-wing, environmentalist and pro-peace groups in
ogies Ltd (“GLT”) pioneering LPO, which he exited in 2006. the 2007 general election. He resigned from the Freedom
As a social entrepreneur, Rajesh founded and acted as and Solidarity Party on 19 June 2009. After the Democratic
a director to Human Energy (Uganda) Ltd (“HEU”).He is a Society Party was dissolved in December 2009, he joined
founder director of HIC (www.hicameroon.org), an NGO forces with the remaining Kurdish MPs in the Peace and
based in NW Cameroon. He was an exec director of an Democracy Party group. On 25 November 2012, he be-
AIM listed Company, where he managed the company’s came a co-founder and member of social liberal Greens
renewable energy portfolio. He helped found “BEEBE”, a and the Left Party of the Future, founded as a merger of
Mexican renewable energy company, devising its strat- the Greens and the Equality and Democracy Party. Ufuk
egy and acted as director. Rajesh has taught meditation is a member of the Dialogue Group and is the writer of
since 2012 and is the Executive Director of Poulstone Court several books on Turkish politics.
Retreat Centre (www.poulstone.com). In 2016, he founded
and is promoting his annual initiative; a global non stop Professor Dr. Sevtap Yokuş
7 day meditation for Unity (www.meditateforunity.com). Professor Dr Sevtap Yokuş is a Law Faculty Member at İs-
tanbul Altinbas University in the Department of Constitu-
Sir David Reddaway tional Law. She holds a PhD in Public Law from the Fac-
Sir David Reddaway is a retired British diplomat cur- ulty of Law, Istanbul University, awarded in 1995 for her
rently serving as Chief Executive and Clerk of the Gold- thesis which assessed the state of emergency regime in
smiths’ Company in London. During his previous career Turkey with reference to the European Convention on Hu-
in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he served as man Rights. She is a widely published expert in the areas
Ambassador to Turkey (2009-2014), Ambassador to Ire- of Constitutional Law and Human Rights and has multi-
land (2006-2009), High Commissioner to Canada (2003- ple years’ experience of working as a university lecturer
2006), UK Special Representative for Afghanistan (2002), at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. She
and Charge d’Affaires in Iran (1990-1993). His other as- also has experience of working as a lawyer in the Europe-
signments were to Argentina, India, Spain, and Iran, where an Court of Human Rights.
he was first posted during the Iranian Revolution.

62 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2021 63
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