Development of the Roma Rights Movement in Turkey
Development of the Roma Rights Movement in Turkey

Summary/Abstract: The Roma rights movement in Turkey, starting a few years ago with the courageous efforts of a small number of pioneering activists in a few towns, is a new phenomenon for Turkey, which has received a justifiable welcome within the human rights community. Before discussing the hopeful story of Roma associations in Turkey, this article will review the development of Turkish legislation on freedom of associations and the state of affairs today. With the EU integration process gaining speed in Turkey, as it is the case in other legal fields as well, a series of far-reaching legal reforms in the area of freedom of association have been made in recent years. Notwithstanding their deficiencies and lingering undemocratic features, the changes in the legislation on foundations in the period 2002 – 2005 have undoubtedly encouraged the process of founding many Roma and other minority associations and, in broader terms, have given inspiration to ideas and developments in Turkish civil society.

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