The International Conference on Freedom of Association will be Held on June 11-12 in Istanbul with the Theme “Strong Civil Society”

Civil society organizations from across Türkiye will come together with the participation of international guests at the International Conference on Freedom of Association. The international conference will be held in Istanbul on June 11-12, 2024, with the theme “Strong Civil Society.”

Organized by the Third Sector Foundation of Türkiye (TÜSEV) and the Civil Society Development Center Association (STGM) with the support of the European Union, the conference will bring together representatives from civil society organizations, academics, experts, activists, and policymakers from around the world.

What Will We Discuss?

In this two-day conference, which will address various dimensions of freedom of association through different sessions, we will discuss how to combat the barriers to the shrinking civic space and how to empower CSOs, which are fundamental actors in democracy.

We will also collectively discuss what we can do to ensure that civil society organizations can continue pursuing their core missions, such as protecting human rights and promoting social justice.

The conference will address innovative perspectives and approaches to overcoming the challenges faced by democratic systems worldwide. It will also explore the resilience civil society has shown in various countries and regions, how civil society organizations have adapted to changing environments, and the global impact of legislation and regulations related to freedom of association on civil society activities. Good practices regarding international organizations and collaborations will also be shared.

Sessions Include:

• New Approaches to Combatting Challenges Faced by Democracies
• Resilience of Civil Society in Difficult Times
• Protection of Freedom of Association: Legal Regulations
• Global Civil Society Agenda and the Role of International Organizations
• Impact of New Technologies on Civil Society

Who Can Apply?

Representatives of civil society organizations can apply for the two-day conference. Priority will be given to civil society organizations that engage in rights-based work.

A total of 80 representatives from CSOs will be accepted to the conference. Accommodation and travel expenses for 30 representatives coming from outside Istanbul will be covered by the project. We would like to remind those who are applying from Istanbul that their local transportation expenses will be their own responsibility. Academics and experts working in civil society who wish to attend the conference can contact us at info@tusev.org.tr and bilgi@stgm.org.tr.

You can fill out the application form to participate in the international conference by 6:00 PM on May 20, 2024.

CSO representatives deemed eligible to participate will be informed on May 27, 2024.

You can follow announcements related to the conference on the STGM and TÜSEV websites and their social media accounts, or contact us at info@tusev.org.tr and bilgi@stgm.org.tr.