Nesw

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca participated in the panel titled “Access to Human Rights from National and International Perspectives,” organized by the Governorship of İzmir at the Izmir Economics Congress Building. Ombudsman Mr. Özcan Yıldız also participated in the panel.

In his speech, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca emphasized that especially in the past two decades, Türkiye has carried out profound reforms in a wide range of vital areas—from the zero-tolerance policy on torture, to strengthening women’s rights, expanding freedom of expression, and the ensuring the protection of personal data.

Chief Ombudsman underlined that the 2010 constitutional amendment enabled individuals to file applications with the Constitutional Court and provided the Ombudsman Institution with a constitutional foundation.

Stressing that every individual has the right to lodge a complaint to the Ombudsman Institution, Chief Ombudsman explained that the Ombudsman Institution, which is dedicated to protecting citizens’ rights, seeks to resolve problems —particularly those related to public administration—swiftly and effectively by establishing an effective complaint mechanism.

Remarking that human rights cannot be meaningful merely as provisions in international conventions or constitutional texts, Chief Ombudsman stated, “What truly matters is embedding these rights into daily life—into our cities, neighborhoods, and streets—and ensuring that public services embody these rights wherever people live. Justice is the highest value.”

Expressing that the history of human rights globally shows these values were won through blood, tears, and struggle, Chief Ombudsman stated, “After the immense sufferings experienced after World War II, humanity came to understand that peace, prosperity, and development are not possible without respecting human dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, was the product of this shared conscience. Türkiye has also demonstrated strong commitment to this universal ideal at the constitutional and institutional levels.”