Türkiye: The Process for a “Peace and Democratic Society”
A renewed process aimed at achieving peace through the resolution of the Kurdish Question in Türkiye was initiated in February 2025, following a call by Kurdish political leader Abdullah Öcalan for a “Peace and Democratic Society.” This initiative prompted significant political and societal developments within Türkiye and across the wider region. Öcalan’s call received broad support from international actors, social movements, and intellectuals worldwide. While Kurdish political movements and civil society actors took notable steps to demonstrate their commitment to the process, critics have argued that the government and the ruling party have been slow to undertake concrete measures, in part by framing the process within a narrative of a “terror-free Türkiye.”
In August 2025, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission was established within the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye as a special cross-party body tasked with overseeing a renewed peace process aimed at addressing the decades-long conflict. In a significant development, the commission visited Abdullah Öcalan in November 2025, marking a first in Türkiye’s political history. By the end of 2025, each political group represented in the commission had prepared a report outlining its findings and proposing necessary legislative reforms.
In December 2025, the commission announced an extension of its mandate for an additional two months, until February 2026. The remaining task is for the commission to consolidate the reports submitted by participating political groups and to publish a final report containing its recommendations. Subsequent discussions are expected to focus on how these recommendations may be translated into legislative—and potentially constitutional—changes, with the aim of achieving a just and sustainable resolution to the Kurdish Question through the expansion of democratic politics and the strengthening of the rule of law in Türkiye.
The “Right to Hope”
In September 2025, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted an interim resolution concerning Türkiye’s failure to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), notably in the case of Öcalan v. Turkey (No. 2) (2014) and related cases involving individuals sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment (the “Gurban Group”). This followed a decision by the Committee in 2024 granting Türkiye a one-year deadline to enact the required legislative changes, a deadline that was not met.
The Committee of Ministers urged the Turkish authorities to take the necessary measures without further delay and set June 2026 as the latest deadline for providing information on steps taken to implement the ECtHR’s rulings. During the autumn of 2025, hundreds of organizations and individuals, including 88 Nobel Laureates, submitted letters to the President of the Committee of Ministers and to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling for the implementation of the “right to hope” in Abdullah Öcalan’s case.
In November 2025, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), together with Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Turkey Litigation Support Project (TLSP), released a report prepared for the parliamentary commission. The report identified the implementation of the “right to hope” as one of the most urgent rule-of-law issues requiring consideration within the broader peace process.
International Conference for Peace and a Democratic Society
The International Peace and Democratic Society Conference was held in Istanbul on 6–7 December 2025, bringing together politicians, former heads of government, members of parliament, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, academics, and human rights defenders from around the world. The conference aimed to share comparative experiences and perspectives on peace and reconciliation processes, as well as innovative approaches to democracy, in support of the ongoing process for a Peace and Democratic Society in Türkiye.
The Road Ahead
With several critical milestones approaching, 2026 is likely to be a decisive year for efforts toward a political resolution of the Kurdish Question and for the broader geopolitical balance of the region. Amid rising global instability and challenges to international norms, initiatives that prioritise peace through democratic politics in Türkiye and neighbouring regions take on heightened significance. Spanning four states—Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria—Kurdish regions may play a pivotal role in shaping future regional dynamics.
Within Türkiye, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission is expected to conclude its mandate in February 2026 and to publish its final report, consolidating proposals for legislative and potentially constitutional reforms aligned with the process for a Peace and Democratic Society. Several key political figures, including the chair of the commission, have described the current period as politically critical and have cautioned the government against actions that could delay or undermine the process.
By June 2026, Türkiye is also required to submit a new Action Plan to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, detailing how it intends to implement the ECtHR’s judgment concerning the “right to hope.” Should Türkiye again fail to comply, the Council of Europe may consider using the mechanisms at its disposal, including initiating infringement proceedings under Article 46(4), applying political and diplomatic pressure, and publicly highlighting Türkiye’s failure to meet its international obligations.