HM-Berlin

ABOUT

Hafiza Merkezi Berlin was founded within a global context of rising authoritarian governments, increasing nationalism and right-wing extremist movements. This increasingly alarming trend of the erosion of the rule of law and a setback in human rights at a global scale puts human rights advocates, truth seekers and defenders of accountability under a growing pressure to act...

This has a direct impact on the shrinking civil space that secures the democratic basis of the society. Turkey is one of the countries which has had more than its fair share of this pressure and restricted civic space. Under these circumstances, the founders of Hafıza Merkezi, a human rights organization operating in İstanbul since 2011, decided to establish an independent organization in Berlin. The main aim was to engage more directly with the international human rights system, engage with human rights issues in countries other than their own and build bridges between different countries, groups and activists through internationalisation, knowledge production and civil engagement. We were established as a Berlin based organization in 2018 and received our charity status the same year.

Based on the comprehensive accumulation of knowledge and expertise stemming from its sister organisation Hafiza Merkezi, HMB aims to promote human rights in alliance with other international actors, with the goal of fostering change at a global level. We believe in the significance of international advocacy and solidarity actions with a comparative perspective to tackle the global backlash. To this end, we aim to support CSOs in Turkey and in Europe and to establish long-term, efficient relationships in order to define common agendas for the global human rights movement defending democracy, rule of law and peace.

ABOUT

Hafiza Merkezi Berlin was founded within a global context of rising authoritarian governments, strengthening nationalism and right-wing extremist movements. This increasingly alarming trend of the erosion of the rule of law and a setback in human rights at a global scale puts human rights advocates, truth seekers and defenders of accountability under a growing pressure to act...

This has a direct impact on the shrinking civil space that secures the democratic basis of the society. Turkey is one of the countries which has had more than its fair share of this pressure and restricted civic space. Under these circumstances, the founders of Hafıza Merkezi, a human rights organization operating in İstanbul since 2011, decided to establish an independent organization in Berlin. The main aim was to engage more directly with the international human rights system, engage with human rights issues in countries other than their own and build bridges between different countries, groups and activists through internationalisation, knowledge production and civil engagement. We were established as a Berlin based organization in 2018 and received our charity status the same year.

Based on the comprehensive accumulation of knowledge and expertise stemming from its sister organisation Hafiza Merkezi, HMB aims to promote human rights in alliance with other international actors, with the goal of fostering change at a global level. We believe in the significance of international advocacy and solidarity actions with a comparative perspective to tackle the global backlash. To this end, we aim to support CSOs in Turkey and in Europe and to establish long-term, efficient relationships in order to define common agendas for the global human rights movement defending democracy, rule of law and peace.

ABOUT

Hafiza Merkezi Berlin was founded within a global context of rising authoritarian governments, strengthening nationalism and right-wing extremist movements. This increasingly alarming trend of the erosion of the rule of law and a setback in human rights at a global scale puts human rights advocates, truth seekers and defenders of accountability under a growing pressure to act...

This has a direct impact on the shrinking civil space that secures the democratic basis of the society. Turkey is one of the countries which has had more than its fair share of this pressure and restricted civic space. Under these circumstances, the founders of Hafıza Merkezi, a human rights organization operating in İstanbul since 2011, decided to establish an independent organization in Berlin. The main aim was to engage more directly with the international human rights system, engage with human rights issues in countries other than their own and build bridges between different countries, groups and activists through internationalisation, knowledge production and civil engagement. We were established as a Berlin based organization in 2018 and received our charity status the same year.

Based on the comprehensive accumulation of knowledge and expertise stemming from its sister organisation Hafiza Merkezi, HMB aims to promote human rights in alliance with other international actors, with the goal of fostering change at a global level. We believe in the significance of international advocacy and solidarity actions with a comparative perspective to tackle the global backlash. To this end, we aim to support CSOs in Turkey and in Europe and to establish long-term, efficient relationships in order to define common agendas for the global human rights movement defending democracy, rule of law and peace.

ENCOUNTERS

As an organization that is founded at the crossroads of Germany, Turkey and Europe one of our first missions is to acknowledge this plurality and frame it as a ...space of encounter. Our aim is to provide a space for people from different geographical and professional contexts to come together. Through these encounters, we aim to facilitate exchange between civil society actors facing similar challenges in shrinking democratic spaces, sharing lessons from their work and building solidarity actions.

ADVOCACY

We follow a broad approach to advocacy. This includes focused training and intensive exchange between activists as well as interaction with broader audiences ...through putting different mediums into use. The core to effective advocacy is knowledge, that is why we want to enable easy access to resources and a network that strengthens the advocacy capacity of civil society in Turkey and beyond.

RESEARCH

We aim to conduct and publish well-designed, deeply analytical research in line with international standards that is made with and for civil society actors. We ...want to connect academic knowledge and sound methodologies with the practical experience and political knowledge of actors in the field. Through this, we aim to work closely towards the needs of civil society and provide knowledge that is directly applicable to the ongoing struggle in shrinking civil spaces.

ENCOUNTERS

As an organization that is founded at the crossroads of Germany, Turkey and Europe one of our first missions is to acknowledge this plurality and frame it as a ...space of encounter. Our aim is to provide a space for people from different geographical and professional contexts to come together. Through these encounters, we aim to facilitate exchange between civil society actors facing similar challenges in shrinking democratic spaces, sharing lessons from their work and building solidarity actions.

ADVOCACY

We follow a broad approach to advocacy. This includes focused training and intensive exchange between activists as well as interaction with broader audiences ...through putting different mediums into use. The core to effective advocacy is knowledge, that is why we want to enable easy access to resources and a network that strengthens the advocacy capacity of civil society in Turkey and beyond.

RESEARCH

We aim to conduct and publish well-designed, deeply analytical research in line with international standards that is made with and for civil society actors. We ...want to connect academic knowledge and sound methodologies with the practical experience and political knowledge of actors in the field. Through this, we aim to work closely towards the needs of civil society and provide knowledge that is directly applicable to the ongoing struggle in shrinking civil spaces.

NEWS

Our research is finalised 910 569 HM-Berlin

Our research is finalised

The main aim was uncovering the gendered nature of civil society and human rights in Turkey and the experiences of female and non-binary actors in the field.

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HMB Report on Istanbul Convention Released 1000 750 HM-Berlin

HMB Report on Istanbul Convention Released

This report will first provide a comprehensive mapping of the political landscape surrounding women’s rights in both countries with an emphasis on current issues and secondly explore women’s struggles and mobilization in response to the backlash in order to identify common strategies for civil society actors.

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Decolonizing the Screen and Fighting Against an Atmosphere of Fear – An Interview with Necati Sönmez 450 225 HM-Berlin

Decolonizing the Screen and Fighting Against an Atmosphere of Fear – An Interview with Necati Sönmez

Berke Göl spoke to Necati Sönmez, film critic, journalist, and documentary filmmaker about his organisation of the film festival “Documentarist”, the necessity of giving a platform for critical artists during a rise of global and local backlash, and the difficulties of getting recognition and funding under political pressure and censorship.

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Anti-intellectualism as a reaction against the rise of minority politics – An Interview with Éric Fassin 750 375 HM-Berlin

Anti-intellectualism as a reaction against the rise of minority politics – An Interview with Éric Fassin

Hande Gülen talks with Éric Fassin about how the shifting narratives of the extreme-right influence politics in France, the way anti-intellectualism turns into tangible threats against individuals, and the discussions of exile, that become more frequent while the community anticipates the presidential elections in 2022.

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NEWS

The Power(lessness) of Human Rights Mechanisms in Turkey – An Interview with Benan Molu 900 450 HM-Berlin

The Power(lessness) of Human Rights Mechanisms in Turkey – An Interview with Benan Molu

What do you do, when the trusted mechanisms of rule of law are no longer seen as legally binding but are up for interpretation?

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The Shrinking Civic Space in Russia – An Interview with Natalia Taubina 900 450 HM-Berlin

The Shrinking Civic Space in Russia – An Interview with Natalia Taubina

Since 2012, civil society in Russia is subject to the so-called “foreign agent” law that heavily interferes with the funding opportunities and more.

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“To jest wojna!” The defence of human rights in Poland – An Interview with Monika Tichy 900 450 HM-Berlin

“To jest wojna!” The defence of human rights in Poland – An Interview with Monika Tichy

Pictures from the anti-abortion protests in Poland flooded the media in the autumn of 2020. But it is only the tip of the iceberg of Polish civil society struggling against infringement of women’s and LGBTI+-rights by the government.

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The Forensics of Human Rights – An Interview with Eyal Weizman 900 450 HM-Berlin

The Forensics of Human Rights – An Interview with Eyal Weizman

In recent years, we have witnessed the establishment of numerous human rights organizations that take an interdisciplinary approach.

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SUPPORTED BY


SUPPORTED BY

CONTACT

Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte
Greifswalder Str. 4
10405 Berlin

NEWSLETTER

CONTACT

Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte
Greifswalder Str. 4
10405 Berlin

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NEWSLETTER

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