After yesterday's debate on recent peace initiatives, the morning session commenced with a speech by Emin Aktar, Chairman of the Diyarbakir Bar Association in Turkey. He spoke about the need for the Turkish government to uphold international standards and outlined ongoing human rights abuses, particularly with regard to violations of children's rights, freedom of expression and the right to freely associate. He also spoke of the need to fight actions to close political parties, which restrict political debate in the country.

The session also included Baroness Sarah Ludford, MEP for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, who spoke of the need for a strong working political system in Turkey, which can respect and not impede obligations placed on EU member states to protect human rights. She outlined problems including ongoing human rights abuses, such as the growing criminalisation of children, the excessive power of the military, and the persistent closure of political parties, contending that the failure to solve the Kurdish issue distorts the whole of the Turkish system.

The final session later this afternoon will turn the delegate’s attention to discussion around a possible roadmap for the Kurdish resolution and the EU’s role in facilitating this process.