Emine Dizdarlı: Unfortunately, We Haven't Reached the Necessary Stages So Far

The symposium, titled "Human Rights Symposium," is organized by the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association in collaboration with Near East University, marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" on December 10, 1948.

The symposium began with opening speeches by Emine Dizdarlı and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yeter Tabur, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law at Near East University. Hasan Esendağlı, President of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, addressed the guests through a video recording.

Emine Dizdarlı emphasized that human rights, as defined in various contexts, are the fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all individuals simply by being human. She discussed the philosophical discussions on securing freedoms after World War II and the foundational role of the Nuremberg Trials in this process.

Referring to the "Living Instrument" doctrine developed by the European Court of Human Rights, Dizdarlı explained that the court considers the conditions and intentions of the present day when evaluating applications, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the interpretation of human rights.

Dizdarlı touched upon the lack of progress in achieving necessary milestones and expressed her belief that there is still a long way to go. She also highlighted the absence of an objective criterion regarding the prioritization of rights for protection and the ongoing debates on the scope of human rights.

The President of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, Hasan Esendağlı, speaking through a video recording, commented on the unsatisfactory developments in human rights globally and regionally.

Yeter Tabur, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law at Near East University, discussed the responsibility of individuals, government bodies, and civil society organizations in creating a culture of human rights. He emphasized the importance of widespread initiatives related to human rights in the country.

The symposium aimed to shed light on the current unfavorable global and regional developments in human rights and contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights through joint efforts of public institutions, organizations, and civil society.