We have submitted a series of detailed civil society findings to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in response to its call for input for Draft General Comment No. 38 on Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (freedom of association), contributing to the Committee’s effort to clarify States’ obligations in protecting civic space worldwide.

Our submissions document systematic and long-term restrictions on freedom of association in Turkey, including the criminalisation of opposition political actors, the dismantling of Kurdish political and civic movements, the repression of peaceful assembly, and the destruction of economic civil society through the mass closure of business associations, drawing on extensive monitoring, case studies, and five years of empirical data.

Based on these findings, we urge the United Nations Human Rights Committee to adopt a strong and victim-centred interpretation of Article 22 by clearly prohibiting the misuse of counter-terrorism frameworks, condemning blanket and disproportionate restrictions, strengthening protections for political parties and civil society actors, and reaffirming States’ positive obligations to ensure that associations can operate freely without intimidation, discrimination, or retaliation.