*Tunahan Gözlügöl

In the first article of the 2024 International Study Trip Student Experiences Series, we share the article by METU student Tunahan Gözlügöl about his experiences and new perspectives he gained during this year’s International Study Trip.

As we started the trip, we were confused, which I am sure we all experienced. Questions piled up, and the first one was, “What will this trip do for me?” From the outside, it looks like an institutional trip at first glance. Still, of course, even that sounds nice. But when you go on the trip, you see that it is not just an institutional trip but a festival of ideas. So why is that? Let me tell you.

I am a person who contemplates human rights and explains them as much as possible. It is clear that some things regarding human rights are not going well in the existing literature and practice. We live in a world where even the most basic rights are violated while there are agreements, laws, big words, and such. The defence of rights stuck in law is insufficient, and a change is needed. For this reason, a critical perspective on human rights is required. While criticising this, Johan Galtung examines the law tradition from a structure-centered and victim-centered perspective. While the victim-centred perspective misses the structure itself, the structure-centered perspective misses the individuals. At this point, the legal system has a victim-centred perspective, and, as Galtung added, it is conservative and does not accept change. Even if a change occurs, it is not focused on preventing a problem but on the recurrence of the problem that has happened. That also includes the violation of rights to some extent. For this reason, it is necessary to accept the legal system as a mechanism but also to say that it is insufficient. While putting this here, finding innovations that fill the gaps is necessary. Some think of this as radical change, some as baby steps. While I think about this without expressing my opinion, expectations from the existing system inevitably arise.

For example, you question why the European Court of Human Rights decisions are not implemented. Here, I learned something from this trip. Before this trip, I wondered, “Is it against my critical stance?” But right then, the first question that came to my mind was, “Why aren’t there enough sanctions in the Council of Europe?” The answer was that sanctions are most effective through the economy. In other words, the system had created its own gap. If it is consciously or not, I leave that to you. Therefore, visiting institutions such as the European Parliament and the Council of Europe allows you to learn something. Apart from these institutions, you see that every civil society organization you visit is expanding the same human rights defence you have been expanding. In other words, you feel a little bit that you are not alone. But I think the most important thing is that it offers an opportunity to build an idea. Indeed, when we say Europe, a rosy world comes to mind where people with no problems come together and add work to their carefreeness. But when you go there and see people who know, see and think about your agendas as well, you feel that you are not alone, and it builds the feeling that the change is within us. We are a part of the change. I am not limiting this to Turkey. As an LGBTI+ person, it teaches us that the construction of the struggle for existence is not somewhere out there but within us. You can ask if I didn’t already know this. However, the real issue is that it is necessary to see firsthand that big institutions’ big promises do not protect us and that the power that fosters peace for Ukraine cannot do the same for Palestine. This trip shows that the struggle for human rights is not limited to Turkey, that even though it is called “civilization”, human rights must be protected against the system there as well. In other words, although the struggle gets tougher in some places, it is actually everywhere.

This trip made me realize that you built this within yourself and also provided many changes and concrete ideas. Oh, not everything is so serious, I should say that. So don’t let this trip make you feel like a government office monotony. Indeed, the social environment that grows with the people you meet on this trip provides a magnificent friendship experience. A collective activity, a collective experience, adds intimacy to you. The conversations you have together and the memories you accumulate together present huge photos to your mind in a short time. Of course, the association also has surprises and turns the experience they add into a memory kneaded with sincerity. During the long periods after the institution trips, you try new tastes together; you experience a new culture on the streets. In short, you both add a lot to yourself in terms of ideas in a short period, and you accumulate wonderful memories. What this trip builds is much more than it seems. I would like to conclude my final words about this experience by expressing my gratitude. With love!