| dc.description.abstract | Access to justice is a multi-fold concept interlinking the protection of fundamental rights and the
effective provisions of justice services to everyone without discrimination of any kind, including gender.
It concerns obligations on the state to ensure accessibility, quality, and accountability of justice services
as well as legal awareness and literacy among individuals to claim and defend their rights. One of
the most important elements of access to justice is the provision of legal aid which contributes to
eliminating barriers for people who lack financial means or capacity to defend their rights and supports
them to claim their rights and benefits from available remedies and services. However, for many women
in Türkiye, coming into contact with the justice system and accessing legal aid can be a challenging
and overwhelming experience. Economic, social and cultural barriers reduce women’s ability to obtain
equal protection of their rights, acquire legal remedies established by law and access available legal aid.
Moreover, lack of awareness of these barriers among front-line professionals, including legal aid lawyers,
and embedded discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes further limit women’s access to justice,
including legal aid, and their enjoyment of their rights as equal citizens.
This study seeks to fill the gaps in information to ensure for a comprehensive gender assessment
of the legal aid system in Türkiye. It examines all aspects of legal aid delivery – the legal framework,
governance structure, budgets and delivery models – and the differential impact the services and
delivery have on women and men. The study hopes to contribute to the improvements that are needed
in the organisation and implementation of legal aid services to make them more accessible, genderresponsive and empowerment-oriented for women, including those from vulnerable groups. | en_US |
