r. Zakira Hekmat, Founder and President of ARSA Association, participated in the international training program titled “Human Rights at International Borders: Advocacy Strategies in Challenging Contexts and Countering Anti-Migrant Narratives”, held in Belgrade, Serbia, from 22 to 24 April 2026.

Organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the program brought together experts and human rights practitioners from different countries to comprehensively discuss human rights at border areas, migration management, access to information, and advocacy approaches.

During the three-day training, the first day focused on situation analyses, human rights issues at borders, and the fundamental principles of advocacy. The second day addressed migration narratives, combating hate speech, multi-level advocacy, and strategic communication for narrative building. The final day covered sustainable advocacy approaches, psychological resilience, and methods for cooperation and coalition-building among various stakeholders.

Dr. Zakira Hekmat’s participation in the program created an important opportunity to strengthen ARSA Association’s institutional capacity and expand cooperation networks with organizations from different countries. During the program, ARSA’s activities were introduced, while the legal and social challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Türkiye were shared through comparative discussions with practices in other countries. In addition, the knowledge, experience, and good practices gained from the program are expected to further strengthen ARSA’s field activities and rights-based advocacy efforts.