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Alla impact stories
Legal Aid strengthen legal protection for trans women in Turkey
During the year of 2025, our Turkish partner organisation Legal Aid has helped strengthen legal protections for trans women and, together with HRA Istanbul, coordinated on-site legal support during Trans Pride Week demonstrations. Through this initiative, trans women received legal assistance when detained, and many of these cases were then subsequently raised in the Turkish parliament.In 2025, Palme Center’s partner organisation Legal Aid helped to strengthen legal protection for trans women subjected to violence and arbitrary arrests. Ahead of Trans Pride Week in Istanbul, the organisation, together with the human rights organisation HRA Istanbul, coordinated on-site legal support during the demonstrations. Lawyers were present as observers and were able to intervene immediately when trans women were arrested.
Faster releases and documentation of human rights violations
These efforts led to faster releases and encouraged more trans women who had been subjected to violence to report abuse and initiate legal proceedings. The organisation also documented violations of human rights during arrests and in custody, which strengthened the legal possibilities of pursuing the cases further.
Raising political awareness for violence against trans women
Through joint actions with other human rights organisations, violence against trans women was highlighted through social media, panels and public discussions. Several cases were subsequently raised politically and brought to the attention of the Turkish parliament through questions and interpellations from MPs.