We have reached a crucial phase in the ongoing struggle for the political resolution of the Kurdish question—peace is on the horizon, but can be reached only through doubling our collective efforts, both in Kurdistan and internationally.
In this context, we recognise Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan as a key initiator of the current peace process in Turkey, whose influence extends to developments in neighbouring Kurdish regions. At a time of escalating global conflict, we must defend the possibility of peace and stand behind those working to achieve it. We therefore call for Mr. Öcalan—central interlocutor and architect of these efforts—to be enabled to fulfil this role, and for his freedom.
We invite you to take action, in urging the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to ensure the implementation of the ECHR 2014 decision Öcalan v. Turkey (2) on the ‘right to hope’, and in support of peace and democratisation through the resolution of the Kurdish question. At this critical moment, the world is in urgent need of leaders who are committed to peace.
Take Action
- Write to your representatives in the Council of Europe, asking them to ensure the implementation of the ECHR 2014 decision Öcalan v. Turkey (2) against aggravated life sentences, and on the “right to hope.” A sample letter can be found here, and links to email contacts can be found below.
- Sign the public letter
- Share on social media, raise awareness about the topic
- Organise actions and discussions in your local context. Send photos of actions organised to us at ocalanvigil@gmail.com or @Vigil4Ocalan so we can share on our platforms.
Contacts for Council of Europe by Country:
Below the are contacts for the national delegations and permanent representations of member states of the Council of Europe. Emails can be sent to the secretariat of each national delegation, or to the permanent representative of each member state (who’s email can be found by following the links below).
Albania
National Delegation of Albania to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Albania to the Council of Europe: Mr Dastid Koreshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Andorra
National Delegation of Andorra to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Andorra to the Council of Europe: Mr Andreu Jordi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Armenia
National Delegation of Armenia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe: Mr Armen Papikyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Austria
National Delegation of Austria to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Austria to the Council of Europe: Ms Aloisia Wörgetter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Azerbaijan
National Delegation of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe: Mr Fakhraddin Ismayilov, Ambassador
Belgium
National Delegation of Belgium to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Council of Europe: Ms Delphine Delieux, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe: Mr Haris Bašić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Bulgaria
National Delegation of Bulgaria to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the Council of Europe: Ms Genka Georgieva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Croatia
National Delegation of Croatia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Croatia to the Council of Europe: Mr Toma Galli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Cyprus
National Delegation of Cyprus to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe: Mr George Yiangou, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Czechia
National Delegation of Czechia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Czechia to the Council of Europe: Ms Kristýna Najmanová, Ambassador
Denmark
National Delegation of Denmark to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Denmark to the Council of Europe: Mr Michael Aastrup Jensen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Estonia
National Delegation of Estonia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Estonia to the Council of Europe: Ms Aino Leppik von Wirén, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Finland
National Delegation of Finland to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Finland to the Council of Europe: Ms Sini Paukkunen-Mykkänen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
France
National Delegation of France to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe: Mr Pap Ndiaye, Ambassador
Georgia
National Delegation of Georgia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe: Ms Khatia Tsilosani, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Germany
National Delegation of Germany to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Germany to the Council of Europe: Ms Heike Thiele, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Greece
National Delegation of Greece to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Greece to the Council of Europe: Mr Nicolas Sigalas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Hungary
National Delegation of Hungary to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Hungary to the Council of Europe: Mr Harry Alex Rusz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Iceland
National Delegation of Iceland to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the Council of Europe: Ms Gréta Gunnarsdóttir, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ireland
National Delegation of Ireland to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Council of Europe: Ms Caitriona Doyle, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Italy
National Delegation of Italy to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Italy to the Council of Europe: Mr Roberto Martini, Ambassador
Latvia
National Delegation of Latvia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Latvia to the Council of Europe: Ms Agnese Vilde, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Lithuania
National Delegation of Lithuania to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Council of Europe: Mr Andrius Krivas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Luxembourg
National Delegation of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe: Mr Patrick Engelberg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Malta
National Delegation of Malta to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe: Mr. Ian Borg
Republic of Moldova
National Delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the Council of Europe: Ms Daniela Cujbă, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Monaco
National Delegation of Monaco to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Monaco to the Council of Europe: Mr Gabriel Revel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Montenegro
National Delegation of Montenegro to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the Council of Europe: Ms Božidarka Krunić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Netherlands
National Delegation of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe: Ms Tanja Gonggrijp, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
North Macedonia
National Delegation of North Macedonia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to the Council of Europe: Ms Svetlana Geleva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Norway
National Delegation of Norway to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Norway to the Council of Europe: Mr Vebjørn Heines, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Poland
National Delegation of Poland to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Poland to the Council of Europe: Mr Aleksander Pociej, Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
Portugal
National Delegation of Portugal to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Portugal to the Council of Europe: Mr António Alves Machado, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Romania
National Delegation of Romania to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Romania to the Council of Europe: Mr Ion Jinga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Serbia
National Delegation of Serbia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Serbia to the Council of Europe: Ms Suzana Grubješić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Slovakia
National Delegation of Slovakia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the Council of Europe: Ms Olga Algayerová, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Slovenia
National Delegation of Slovenia to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the Council of Europe: Ms Berta Mrak, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Spain
National Delegation of Spain to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Spain to the Council of Europe: Ms Rosa Velázquez Álvarez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Sweden
National Delegation of Sweden to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the Council of Europe: Mr Niklas Kebbon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Switzerland
National Delegation of Switzerland to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Council of Europe: Ms Muriel Berset Kohen, Ambassador (Chargée d’affaires a.i.)
Ukraine
National Delegation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe: Mr Mykola Tochytskyi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
United Kingdom
National Delegation of the United Kingdom to the Council of Europe
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Council of Europe: Mr Sandy Moss, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary