MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT KILIÇ FOR THE 2^nd CONGRESS OF THE AACC

Honorable Colleagues,

I would like to welcome all our guests to the website dedicated to the 2^nd Congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC)! I greet all our guests with my deepest love and respect in my capacity as the Term President of the Association.

Conference of Asian Constitutional Court Judges first emerged in 2000’s with an aim to convene the constitutional courts and supreme courts of Asian countries in a joint working environment. The Conference changed its name into "Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions" with the Jakarta Declaration signed at the finale of the 7^th Conference of the Asian Constitutional Court Judges, held between 12-15 June 2010 in Jakarta, Indonesia. After the adoption of the Jakarta Declaration, the Association became one of the leading organizations in Asia in the field of constitutional justice. After a successful period of 1^st Term Presidency by the Korean Constitutional Court, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey was unanimously elected as the Term President of the Association during the Board of Members meeting held between 20-22 May 2012 in Seoul, Korea.

Our Association has grown larger with every passing year and reached a total number of 13 full members and 15 associate members. We have been carrying out inspiring studies in the field of different constitutional justice systems in Asian countries.

The Association creates new projects for the development of human rights and freedoms in Asia, expansion of democracy and rule of law, exchange of knowledge and experience between the members and cooperation in the field of constitutional justice.

One of the most significant projects was the 1^st Summer School on Constitutional Justice hosted by our Court between 6 - 13 September 2013 in Ankara. The theme of the mentioned Summer School was determined as "Principle of Equality and Prohibition of Discrimination", which was thought to be a common subject as it was the first program to combine views and opinions reflecting different legal cultures. The participants had the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience both through the presentations and the discussions and Q&A sessions during the program. The contributions by the member countries and other academics will be compiled in a book titled "Constitutional Justice in Asia" to be presented to the benefit of all.

The Preparatory Meeting for the 2^nd Congress of the AACC was held on 24 April 2013 in Ankara and the members agreed unanimously to hold the 2^nd Congress of the Association in Istanbul. Besides, the following 4 main themes and their sub-themes were agreed to be the themes of the 2^nd Congress:

  1. Protection of Human Rights
        a. Protection of Social Rights By Constitutional Courts
        b. Protection of Human Rights By Means of Individual Application
  2. Difficulties Encountered in the Activities of Constitutional and Supreme Courts
        a. The Execution of Judgments of Constitutional and Supreme Courts
        b. Relations between Constitutional, Supreme Courts and Parliament
  3. Interpretation in Constitutional Justice
        a. Methods of Interpretation in Constitutional Justice
        b. Norm Review and Constitutional Interpretation Differences in Individual Application Methods
        c. The Dual Role of Constitutional Courts as Distributor of Individual Justice and Interpreter of the Constitution
  4. The Role of Constitutional and Supreme Courts in the Protection of Constitutional Order

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my colleagues who will come to our country to participate in the 2^nd Congress of the AACC as they will reflect the colors and patterns of their society through the presentations and speeches that they will deliver, or the discussions that they will contribute.

Concluding my words, I would like to express that the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions has filled a considerable gap in Asia in the field of Constitutional Justice and our Association organizes events and activities to serve the protection of rights and freedoms in Asia, cooperation between courts and solidarity among the jurists of constitutional justice.

I would like to convey my sincere thanks in advance for your attention and future participation in the 2^nd Congress of our Association. With my wishes of success for the Second Congress, I greet you all once again with my deepest respects on behalf of our Court and on my own behalf.

Haşim KILIÇ
President of the Turkish Constitutional Court
President of the Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions