Call for Proposals: Policy Brief Series (Turkey)

Freedom House calls for proposals from both rising and experienced independent researchers, scholars, and affiliated research analysts, especially those based in Turkey for forward-looking briefs on the increasing crackdown on the LGBTQI+ community in Turkey and the role of relevant stakeholders to protect LGBTQI+ rights in the context of defending fundamental freedoms in Turkey.

Funding Information

• An honorarium of between $500 and $1,000 will be provided, depending on the originality, scope and length of the brief.

Featured Program Publications (Policy Brief)

• The Impact of Turkey’s Recent Amendments to the Electoral Laws on Fundamental Freedoms and Electoral Integrity
• The Systematic Decline of the Freedom of Expression in Turkey
• “Smart” Repression at work: Shrinking Space for Academic Freedom in Turkey
• Withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention: War on Gender Equality in Turkey
• Stifling Lawyers and Bar Associations: Restrictions undermining the right to legal defense in Turkey.

Criteria

• As part of the policy brief series, Freedom House aims to create a common ground for different civil society actors to address human rights issues in the country. Through these briefs, nontraditional authors, such as lawyers, university faculty, and students, are provided the opportunity to write forward-looking briefs on themes covering fundamental freedoms in Turkey. The last policy brief in the series analyzed growing restrictions on the media, the newly enacted disinformation law and its impact on protecting electoral integrity before the 2023 elections in Turkey.
• Freedom House is looking for concept proposals for a policy brief that will explore recent attacks on LGBTQI+ rights in Turkey and provide recommendations for protecting rights. The authors are encouraged to come at this question creatively. The selected brief will examine the increasing crackdown on LGBTQI+ community and the implications of the planned constitutional amendment proposal that aims to “protect family values” and targets LGBTQI+ individuals. Furthermore, the brief will present recommendations for civil society, national, and international stakeholders to protect human rights, in particular the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals.

Application Process

• The concept proposal should consist of an abstract of no more than 300 words, an outline of the argument and recommendations to be presented, and a CV of the principal researcher or researchers. Organizations may submit proposals for more than one brief. Priority will be given to concept proposals submitted in English. Freedom House encouraged non-traditional journalists, such as lawyers or students to apply.
• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and one policy brief will be produced. Contracted researcher(s) will be asked to deliver a draft of 2500-3000 words. The brief will be copy-edited, published, and promoted by Freedom House, with the byline and affiliation of the researcher.

For more information, visit Policy Brief Series.