The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), in cooperation with the Gaziantep Bar Association, held a workshop on the procedure for individual applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The event, held on Saturday, May 2, brought together lawyers and human rights defenders to focus on effective application methods, common mistakes and the implementation of court judgments.
The workshop took place between 09:30 and 17:30 at the Gaziantep Bar Association Conference Hall, with the participation of more than 80 lawyers and trainee lawyers. The event aimed to address practical challenges in the application process and to strengthen lawyers’ technical capacity in lodging applications before the ECHR.
The program began with opening remarks by MLSA and the Gaziantep Bar Association. Emine Özhasar, Legal Unit Coordinator at MLSA, said in her opening speech: “As MLSA, we have been striving since 2020 to organize these workshops on ECHR application procedures in regions where rights violations are widespread. The application process before the ECHR involves many technical intricacies, both procedural and substantive, and is therefore not widely known. Today, our esteemed speakers, who are directly involved in this process, will explain how to effectively lodge an application before the Court. I have been attending these trainings for four years, and each time I leave having learned something new. I hope it will be beneficial for all of us. We would also like to thank the Gaziantep Bar Association for making this opportunity possible.”
Legal experts with ECHR experience speak
Speakers included legal professionals who have previously worked, or are currently working, at the ECHR, as well as members of the Strasbourg and Paris bar associations. Among them were Dr. M. Şerif Yılmaz from the ECHR Registry, former ECHR legal adviser Dr. Vincent Berger, Dr. Satu Heikkilä from the ECHR Registry and the University of Lapland, Zeynep Uçar-Tagney from the ECHR Registry, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümit Kılınç of Strasbourg University and the Strasbourg Bar.
Application procedures and the role of lawyers discussed
In the first session, Ümit Kılınç addressed Article 47 of the Rules of Court, focusing on how to prepare duly lodged applications, admissibility criteria and common mistakes. Vincent Berger then discussed the role of lawyers within the European human rights system, outlining the stages before, during and after an application with practical examples.
Interim measures and the court’s functioning
Later in the day, Dr. Satu Heikkilä presented on interim measures under Article 39 of the Rules of Court and explained in which situations this mechanism is applied. Dr. M. Şerif Yılmaz delivered a comprehensive presentation on the structure, functioning and jurisdiction of the Court.
Current cases and implementation of judgments
Zeynep Uçar-Tagney addressed current cases before the ECHR and structural challenges, while Ümit Kılınç led the final session on the implementation of ECHR judgments.
Open to lawyers and trainee lawyers registered with the Gaziantep Bar Association, the workshop concluded after a full-day program that included multiple sessions and a lunch break. Participants said the event provided valuable theoretical and practical insights and contributed to improving the quality of applications to the ECHR.
