Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca, Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT) Mr. Cemil Çiçek, and Former Minister of Justice, Mr. Hikmet Sami Türk participated in the symposium as keynote speakers. The event was also attended by Ombudsmen Mr. Ertunç Erkan Balta, Ms. Fatma Benli Yalçın, Mr. Şerif Yılmaz, and Mr. Özcan Yıldız; and the Secretary General of the Ombudsman Institution, Mr. Mehmet Doğan.

In his speech, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca stated, “As the Ombudsman Institution, we carry out our work with an approach that listens to citizens’ grievances, calls on public administrations to act in accordance with the law and fairness, prioritizes solutions, and upholds the public conscience. We believe that a strong state is one that listens to its citizens.”

The symposium consisted of three sessions. The first session, titled “Judiciary and Ombudsmanship,” was chaired by Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca. The second session, “Duties and Mandate of the Ombudsman,” was chaired by the first Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Nihat Ömeroğlu. The third session, “Ombudsman Decisions,” was chaired by Mr. Şeref Malkoç, who served as the second and third Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye.

During the symposium, distinguished academicians and jurists comprehensively examined the historical development and establishment of the Ombudsman Institution, its contributions to the field of law in Türkiye, its role in reducing the workload of the judiciary, and its function within the constitutional framework. The discussions also addressed the practical implications of the decisions of the Ombudsman Institution and the significance of the Ombudsman Institution in light of current developments.