INDEPENDENT LEGAL MISSION ON THE PEACE PROCESS IN TÜRKIYE
Post Mission Report | May 2026 – updated September 2026
The Independent Legal Mission on the Peace Process in Türkiye (the Mission) is an initiative stablished der the auspices of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) and the Association for Democracy and International Law (MAF-DAD). In addition to lawyers affiliated with these organisations, the Mission was also constituted with the institutional partic pation of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Union of Italian Penal Chambers (UCPI) and sculca.
The objective of the Mission is to assess ongoing developments related to the peace process in the Turkish–Kurdish conflict and to contribute, from an independent and legally grounded perspective,
to the achievement of a just and lasting peace. Guided by the principles set out in the United
Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace (A/RES/71/189), the Mission seeks to promote a resolution rooted in justice and respect for human rights through dialogue, neutrality, and rigorous legal analysis, while fully respecting the sovereignty and institutional framework of the Republic of Türkiye.
The Mission situates its work within the broader context of the Turkish–Kurdish conflict, a complex and evolving issue involving questions of identity, governance, and political participation. Since 1984, the
conflict involved armed hostilities between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK),
alongside ongoing legal and political debates concerning cultural rights, decentralisation, and the application of counterterrorism legislation. The issue engages multiple branches of law, including constitutional law, international human rights law, and, in certain periods, international humanitarian law.
Despite earlier attempts at deescalation, including the 2012–2015 “solution process,” structural
challenges and competing political interpretations continue to shape both the conflict and the prospects for peace.
Recent developments mark a new phase in the process, particularly following the February 2025 call
by PKK’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, for the end of armed struggle. This phase includes ceasefire
declarations, renewed political contacts, and institutional initiatives such as parliamentary
engagement and discussions on disarmament and reintegration frameworks.
For details read the following report: