A new 18-month programme implemented by the Democratic Progress Institute and funded by the European Union will engage political leaders and civil society in building an inclusive and sustainable peace in Türkiye.
The Democratic Progress Institute is implementing an 18-month programme to strengthen inclusive dialogue, broaden societal support for peace and increase women’s participation in peace-building and political decision-making.
Supporting Peace Through Dialogue by Engaging the Leading Actors and Civil Society in Türkiye responds to an important opportunity to advance the peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue. At a time of significant political change, the programme will create trusted spaces where political representatives, civil society organisations and other influential actors can explore practical pathways towards peace. It will draw on international experience while remaining grounded in Türkiye’s political and social context.
The programme’s objectives
The programme has three principal objectives:
- To strengthen informed dialogue among political parties represented in Türkiye’s Parliament.
- To broaden support for peace, reconciliation and depolarisation among political and societal actors.
- To increase women’s influence, participation and visibility in peacebuilding and political dialogue.
Through sustained engagement across political and social divides, the programme will help stakeholders identify shared interests, consider policy options and strengthen their capacity to contribute constructively to a peaceful resolution process.
Bringing diverse voices into the dialogue
Sustainable peace requires broad participation. The programme will engage:
- Political representatives from across the political spectrum.
- Civil society organisations working on peacebuilding, human rights, legal reform and transitional justice.
- Women’s organisations, networks and individual women leaders.
- Representatives of the media, business, academia, arts and cultural sectors.
- International experts experienced in peace processes, democratisation and conflict transformation.
Particular attention will be given to groups that have historically had limited access to formal political processes. The programme will strengthen connections between civil society and political decision-makers while enabling underrepresented voices to inform the wider debate.
How the programme will work
Inclusive roundtables
DPI will convene individual and cross-party roundtables for political representatives, alongside discussions involving civil society, women’s organisations and representatives of the media, business, academia and cultural sectors.
Where appropriate, meetings will take place under the Chatham House Rule, allowing participants to engage openly and constructively in a trusted environment.
International comparative exchanges
Study visits and exchanges hosted in Türkiye will connect participants with experts and practitioners who have contributed to peace processes in other countries.
Participants will consider international experience in confidence-building, negotiation, democratic reform, reconciliation and conflict-sensitive policymaking.
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Briefing and mentoring
Tailored briefing and mentoring will provide political and civil society actors with timely analysis and practical support. These sessions will help participants respond to developments, explore policy options and remain engaged as opportunities and risks evolve.
Research and analysis
The programme will produce policy-oriented research, assessment papers and reports on peace and democratisation in Türkiye. Subjects may include:
- Comparative peace processes and confidence-building.
- Women’s participation in peacebuilding.
- Civil society’s role in political dialogue.
- Cultural and linguistic recognition.
- Constitutional and democratic reform.
- Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.
- The social and economic benefits of peace.
These publications will provide evidence-based resources for political representatives, civil society, researchers, journalists and international partners.
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Public information and engagement
Publications, social media content, interviews, videos and digital storytelling will make the principles and benefits of inclusive dialogue more accessible to wider audiences.
Communications will focus on peacebuilding, democratic participation and comparative international experience while respecting the confidentiality of discussions held under the Chatham House Rule.
Women as agents of change
Women have played important roles in community-level peacebuilding and reconciliation but remain underrepresented in many formal political processes.
Gender inclusion is embedded throughout the programme. DPI will convene women from politics, civil society, media and business; support women’s networks; and strengthen the visibility of women as leaders and agents of change.
Gender-sensitive analysis will also examine how conflict affects women’s lives and identify practical ways to overcome barriers to participation in negotiations, dialogue and decision-making.
Building a broader foundation for peace
The programme is intended to benefit people across Türkiye, particularly communities affected by conflict, including Kurdish communities in the Southeast. An inclusive and sustainable peace could contribute to:
- Greater political and social inclusion.
- Recognition of cultural and linguistic rights.
- Stronger democratic participation.
- Reduced polarisation and increased trust.
- Economic and social revitalisation in conflict-affected communities.
- Greater stability and resilience in Türkiye and the wider region.
By connecting political dialogue with civil society participation, comparative learning, research and public engagement, the programme seeks to build the relationships, knowledge and societal support required for lasting peace.
DPI’s role For more than a decade, the Democratic Progress Institute has facilitated politically sensitive dialogue and comparative learning involving stakeholders from across Türkiye’s political and social spectrum.
DPI’s work is founded on neutrality, discretion and inclusivity. Its established networks, international Council of Experts and experience of comparative peace processes enable it to convene people and institutions that might not otherwise have opportunities to engage directly.
Through this programme, DPI will continue to provide trusted spaces where difficult issues can be explored constructively and practical pathways towards peace developed.
Follow the programme
Updates, publications and public resources will be published on the DPI website and social media channels.
For further information:
Democratic Progress Institute
11 Guilford Street
London WC1N 1DH
United Kingdom
Email: info@democraticprogress.org
Website: www.democraticprogress.org
European Union funding
This programme is funded by the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.