This Turkish Lawsuit Wants To Make Vegan University Food A Human Right

The Vegan Association of Turkey says more needs to be done to provide vegan students with nutritious meals

By

2 Minutes Read

Young person sits on the grass reading and eating Turkish universities do not offer adequate vegan options, say students - Media Credit: Adobe Stock

The Vegan Association of Turkey (TVD) is standing up for plant-based university students.

The nonprofit has filed a lawsuit against the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) for failing to provide students with adequate, nutritious vegan options at the country’s 205 universities. It maintains that failing to do so is violating the human rights of vegan students.

YÖK responded to the lawsuit by suggesting that TVD apply to each university, one by one, and ask them to offer more options.

But the nonprofit says this isn’t enough. In a statement, it says: “Leaving a problem that concerns the whole country to the initiative of each university one by one will cause disorder rather than a resolution. It will damage the balance of equal opportunity that should be established among students.”

TVD also said it could not get positive responses from universities, and this is why it is time for YÖK to step in with regulations. 

Students demand change

University students themselves are also eager for institutions to change.

One petition, addressed to the İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü, has accumulated more than 1,800 signatures. Put together by the university’s vegan society, it states: “We want our most basic right: to eat!”

It goes on to state that the university does not offer a plant-based breakfast or dinner option, and only one option at lunch. It also states that vegan alternatives involve removing meat from meat dishes, and this results in “inadequate nutritional value.”

“For a fairer and more ecological ITU, for everyone to have equal access to health and nutrition, we demand the addition of a vegan menu option to the ITU cafeteria,” reads the petition.

While the lawsuit is ongoing, outcomes in the past show that it could be successful. Since 2012, the rights of vegan and vegetarian prisoners in Turkey have been protected, for example.

Join The Plant Based Newsletter and we will plant a tree! 🌳

We plant a tree for every signup. You’ll receive our weekly news round-up and be the first to hear about, product launches, exclusive offers and more!

© 2024 Plant Based News is a mission-led impact media platform focused on elevating the plant-based diet and its benefit to human health, the planet, and animals. | Plant Based News Ltd, PO Box 71173, London, SE20 9DQ, United Kingdom.

buttons/scroll-to-top/scroll-to-top-small-active