Feminist Lawyers - Experience Sharing Workshop in Ankara

On 15 May 2026, the JUDEM project organized a workshop at Bilkent University, bringing together feminist lawyers, bar association representatives, members of solidarity centers, and researchers. The workshop created a collective space to discuss challenges faced in cases of violence against women, reflect on legal and institutional barriers, exchange experiences of feminist legal practice, and imagine more just futures.

The discussions highlighted how gender inequality continues to shape different stages of the legal process, from law enforcement responses and judicial decision-making to the professional experiences of women lawyers. Participants emphasized the persistence of discriminatory practices, lengthy judicial proceedings, secondary victimization, and the emotional and economic burdens carried by feminist legal practitioners.

Alongside these challenges, the workshop focused on strategies of resistance and solidarity. Participants underscored the importance of feminist networks, collective support mechanisms, knowledge-sharing, and the political power of language in making gender-based discrimination visible and contestable. Education, institutional reform, and stronger support systems emerged as key areas for future action.

The workshop concluded with a collective exercise in imagining feminist futures. Participants envisioned a society free from violence against women, an independent and accessible judiciary, stronger feminist institutions, and a future in which safety, justice, and dignity are guaranteed for all women. The discussions reaffirmed that solidarity and the ability to imagine alternative futures remain essential political resources in the struggle for gender justice.