Insan Haklari Ortak Platformu / Human Rights Joint Platform

“The Draft Law on Establishment of Human Rights Council of Turkey” that has been prepared secretly from everyone and us in other words in a manner that is contrary to the UN Paris Principles Must be Withdrawn Immediately!

We have learned that the Government has prepared “the Draft Law on Establishment of Human Rights Council of Turkey” when the spokesperson of the Government, Mr. Cemil Cicek, had a press conference on 18 May 2009.

In fact it is the third attempt of the Government to establish a “National Human Rights Council” that has highly important role regarding protection and promotion of human rights in Turkey since 2004.

The last two attempts were criticized by our organizations as the Government has not asked opinions and thoughts of our organizations and the public opinion but prepared it in a manner of fait accompli.

We face a similar situation today. Our organizations, which work hard to protect and promote human rights despite difficulties for many years in our country, have not been informed about the draft law that has been approved by the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Cicek in the press conference explained the ground of the draft law with the following sentence in summary “The EU progress reports wish establishment of an autonomous council. Not having such a council is considered as failure.” This statement has made us to think that establishment of the Council is carried out in an unwilling but as a homework for the EU within the framework of the negotiated reforms.

We are not wrong for thinking in this way. Many activities, regulations of the Government in the field of human rights were done without asking opinions and recommendations of the human rights organizations and experts, discussing alternative options and respecting for international standards and principles but to convince EU that there is progress in the field human rights and in a manner that does not cause unnecessary problems.

A seminar titled as “Administration and Management of Reception Centers” has been organized by UNHCR Representation in Turkey and Police Department - Foreigners Migration Office between 23 and 26 December 2008 in Izmir through the Global Opportunities Fund for Migration of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Representatives of several local level offices of the ministries as Task Force members and representatives of non-governmental organizations were invited to participate in this seminar. It has been informed that the aim of this seminar was to discuss the issue in broad sense, and to evaluate the conditions of accommodation and reception with related standards, structures and services in a forum environment.