Launch Event: ODIHR / Venice Commission Guidelines on Legal Personality of Religious or Belief Communities in the Turkish Language
The Joint Guidelines have significant implications for Turkey, in particular for the protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief in its collective dimension.
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee Freedom of Belief Initiative, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Istanbul Bilgi University Centre for Human Rights Law and Brigham Young University have the honor of launching the ODIHR/VC Joint Guidelines on Legal Personality of Religious or Belief Communities in the Turkish language.
Launch Event
The OSCE/ ODIHR- Venice Commission Guidelines on the Legal Personality of Religious or Belief Communities in Turkish language
Programme
19 November 2015
Venue: İstanbul Bilgi University Dolapdere Campus, Cinema Hall
10:00 –10:15 Opening Remarks by:
Prof. Turgut Tarhanlı, Director, İstanbul Bilgi University
Human Rights Law Research Centre
Dr. Kishan Manocha, Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief, OSCE/ODIHR; and
Mr. Gunnar-Ekelove Slydal, Associate Secretary General, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee
10:15- 10:40 – “The Emerging Consensus on the Right to Acquire Legal Personality of
Religious or Belief Communities in International Law” Prof. Cole Durham – Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University Law School, United States
10:40- 12:30- Panel Discussion on the OSCE/ ODIHR- Venice Commission Guidelines on the Legal Personality of Religious of Belief Communities: development, promotion and implementation, followed by a Question and Answer Session
Moderator: Professor Bülent Şenay, Uludağ University, a member of the OSCE/ODIHR
Advisory Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Speakers:
“The Development of the Guidelines and General Principles” Ms Dilnoza Satarova –
Associate Officer on Freedom of Religion and Belief, OSCE/ODIHR
“The Legal Status of the Guidelines and Their Content” Prof. Ergun Özbudun- İstanbul Şehir University & Former Member of the Venice Commission, Council of Europe
“The Issue of Legal Status of Religious or Belief Communities in Turkey” Dr Mine Yıldırım- Norwegian Helsinki Committee Freedom of Belief Initiative Project
“Difficulties and Opportunities in Practice” Ms. Hülya Benlisoy, Lawyer of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
