The “Strengthening Business and Human Rights Awareness and Capacity Building of Civil Society Actors” project aims to promote mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) legislation—particularly focusing on the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) —in Türkiye. Through capacity building and awareness-raising initiatives, the project emphasizes the importance of responsible business conduct.

The key objectives of the project include:

1. Increasing Awareness of Business and Human Rights Standards
● Inform civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and trade unions about corporate due diligence legislation, including the LkSG and the CSDDD,
● Promote understanding of international human rights frameworks and corporate accountability mechanisms.

2. Initiating the Conversation with Civil Society Organizations
● Provide specialized training and practical tools to increase the capacity of CSOs,
● Develop a digital resource library with key legal and policy documents in Turkish,
● Equip civil society actors with increased capacity on complaint mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and supply chain mapping.

3. Fostering Collaboration and Advocacy
● Establish a sustainable CSO alliance (“TR Compass”) to create a network among stakeholders.

Led by the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) and the Business and Human Rights Association (BHRTR), this initiative provides training, sources and networks on laws that hold companies accountable for their impact on people and the environment, including the LkSG and CSDDD. Before launching the activities of Phase II (trainings, dialogue events, networks and sources), the project began with an Inception Phase, which focused on assessing the current awareness, challenges, and risks related to business and human rights in Türkiye. This evidence-based phase involved extensive consultations with civil society organisations, trade unions, bar associations, and private sector stakeholders. The findings helped shape tailored training modules and identified areas where greater support and coordination are needed to build monitoring capacity and strengthen responsible business conduct across sectors.

Through a series of training sessions in various cities in Türkiye and the development of a digital BHR resource library, the project aims to introduce the foundation for a sustainable CSO Alliance – a collaborative platform bringing together civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions, and and representatives from academia, all committed to promoting responsible business conduct. It seeks to strengthen civil society’s role and capacity in promoting responsible business practices. By equipping organizations with practical tools and targeted knowledge, the project supports efforts to ensure that businesses uphold international human rights standards and take responsibility for their supply chains.