Mehmet Emre Kalaycı runs for Kocaeli Bar Association presidency

Mehmet Emre Kalaycı, a lawyer with 90 percent visual impairment, has announced his candidacy for the 39th term presidency of the Kocaeli Bar Association. A graduate of Kocaeli University Law Faculty, Kalaycı has practiced law in Kocaeli for approximately 16 years.

His platform focuses on several key initiatives, including the ‘Black Code’ project, which aims to combat violence against lawyers by implementing stricter sanctions and a mobile application for security alerts. He also intends to focus on the digitalization of the bar and improving the economic conditions of legal professionals.

Additionally, Kalaycı plans to advocate for disability rights through a proposed Legislation Development Commission. He highlighted the need for more realistic assessments of disability rates, noting that individuals with mental disabilities holding reports between 25 and 40 percent often face barriers to employment and education due to current regulatory frameworks.