European Commission Recognises ‘the Kurdish Issue’, but Insufficiently Fulfils its Role as ... |
European Commission Recognises ‘the Kurdish Issue', but Insufficiently Fulfils its Role as ‘Implementer' On the day of the release by the European Commission of 2006 Turkey Progress Report, the Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director of the Kurdish Human Rights Project welcomed the Commission’s direct acknowledgement of the plight of Turkey’s Kurdish people in its report. By stating for the first time in recent years that a comprehensive strategy should be pursued in order to achieve the ‘establishment of conditions for the Kurdish population to enjoy full rights and freedoms’, the Commission has made a positive step forward in recognizing that the Kurdish minority in Turkey face daily discrimination because of their ethnicity. KHRP also welcomes its direct criticism of the barriers religious minorities face. Nonetheless, while the Commission Report confirms that there has been a slowdown in the reform process in Turkey — particularly in relation to the highly controversial Article 301 in the Turkish Penal Code and the provisions of the new Anti-Terror Law— its criticism in relation to fundamental human rights and the protection of minorities remains halting, cautious and ambiguous. In citing example after example of the lack of progress, (e.g. 2100 new cases filed at the European Court of Human Rights, with over 70% claiming a violation of the right to a fair trial, to property a right to life or of the prohibition of torture or ill-treatment; no progress made on Turkey’s approach towards minority rights; little change in the situation as regards rights of the child and right to education especially for women and girls), the European Commission failed in its duty to call Turkey to account for lack of compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria. The Commission expresses special concern in relation to the situation internationally displaced people (IDPs), and concludes that there has been no further progress in this regard. The Kurdish Human Rights projects welcomes the Commission’s criticism of the Turkish government on this point, but regrets the Commission’s failure to recognise the problem as an international issue, and the direct role it could and should play in bringing redress and relief to those displaced. The conclusion of the 2006 Progress Report is that the Turkish reform process has slowed down (maintaining the principle of ‘sufficient fulfilment’ of the Copenhagen Criteria as the standard by which the Commission should measure progress). By not unequivocally condemning Turkey’s violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, KHRP finds the Report insufficient. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Rachel Bernu, Rebecca Sammut or Kerim Yildiz Kurdish Human Rights Project 11 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DH Tel: 020 7405 3835
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www.khrp.org |
Sustained and Renewed Action is Needed |
European Parliament, Brussels, 16 - 17 October 2006 The Third International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds closed today with renewed commitment and calls for genuine progress in the field of human rights in Turkey through implementation and the re-evaluation of reforms so far enacted.
The conference heard from academics, politicians, human rights advocates and experts from around the world discussing the varied aspects of the human and minority rights aspects of the Kurdish question in Turkey. Speakers included esteemed lawyer Eren Keskin, Mayor Osman Baydemir, Richard Howitt MEP and Sinasi Haxnedar of Mazlum-Der. The situation of women and IDPs; Turkey’s Anti-Terror law; the revised penal code and its influence on freedom of expression, association and press freedom; and the prospects for peace and reconciliation created by the EU accession process, were amongst the topics discussed.
The conference ends today with the declaration of resolutions from the EU, Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). The resolutions include a message of support for the month-old ceasefire declared by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. A full text of the resolutions will be available from www.eutcc.org.
About the EUTCC In November 2004 the Rafto Foundation, Kurdish Human Rights Project and Medico International hosted the first conference on EU Turkey and the Kurds in the European Parliament. As an outcome of this historic event, these organisations and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales established a standing Civic Commission, the EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). Due to the vibrancy of the dialogue of the 2004 conference, a second EUTCC conference was held in September 2005. The EUTCC is in favour of Turkish EU membership because the EU route remains the greatest hope for securing a civilised, democratic and pluralist Turkey in which a negotiated political solution to the Kurdish question is realised, but only if progress towards membership is based on tangible improvements in the protection of human rights and freedoms and the tackling of the plight of the Kurds is firmly integrated into accession negotiations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the Board of Directors, EUTCC, Tel: +47 555 88 797
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Jon Rud, Secretary General, EUTCC, Tel: +34.965846645
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Kerim Yildiz , Treasurer, EUTCC, Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 3835
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Hege Ekeland, Project Assistant, EUTCC, Tel: +47 93 22 17 36
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Diverse Voices Agree: The EU & Turkey Must Do More |
Since the opening of accession talks in October 2005, the pace of political reforms has slowed, and in some cases regressed. Kerim Yildiz , Executive Director of Kurdish Human Rights Project, opened the Third International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds at the European Parliament in Brussels on 16 October 2006 . Yildiz spoke of Turkey 's accession to the EU, the need for a radical change in attitude from the Turkish government in order to implement real changes on the ground, and the potential role of the EU in the resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey . The conference also heard from several other human rights advocates, esteemed lawyers, politicians from across Europe and Turkey , and academics such as Eren Keskin, Francis Wurtz MEP and Professor Dogu Ergil. Speeches were made on topics as diverse as linguistic rights, Turkey 's Anti-Terror laws, citizenship and democracy. The conference continues on 17 October 2006 with speeches from international experts such as Margaret Owen, Mayor Osman Baydemir, Mark Muller and Joost Lagendijk, Co-Chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, on topics such as the obstacle to peace posed by the ‘deep-state', the implementation of reforms, political representation of the Kurds, freedom of expression and association, promoting cultural, social and economic rights through decentralisation and local governance and the situation of IDPs and women. The conference will conclude with the announcement of resolutions. Click here for full opening speech by Kerim Yildiz (pdf) Click here for background paper to the Conference (pdf) FOR MORE INFORMATION Kerim Yildiz / Rachel Bernu 11 Guilford Street , London , UK +44 (0)207 405 3835
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www.khrp.org |
Steps taken by Turkey only ‘scratch the surface' |
Today, in the European Parliament in Brussels , academics, Turkish, Kurdish and European politicians, influential lawyers, human rights defenders and writers will gather to discuss the human rights and minority rights dimensions of Turkey 's accession to the EU. The Director of the Kurdish Human Rights Project, Kerim Yildiz gave the opening speech where he asserted ‘the steps taken so far by the Turkish government have only scratched the surface', in reference to bringing the country in line with European human rights standards. The Third International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds, is supported by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Bianca Jagger, Harold Pinter, Noam Chomsky and Mehmed Uzun. The Conference is providing a democratic platform for the discussion of the critical role the EU should play in establishing the parameters of peaceful dialogue with all the stakeholders in the resolution of the Kurdish issue and greater democratisation in Turkey . At this time of upheaval and social unrest in Turkey , the Conference represents a great opportunity for dialogue concerning the steps Turkey and the EU need to take for the smooth progression of the accession process. The findings of the conference will be published and presented to the European Commission and thus present an opportunity for NGOs and individuals with regional expertise to highlight to decision-makers the successes and failures of the Turkish Government's reforms. About the EUTCC In November 2004 the Rafto Foundation, Kurdish Human Rights Project and Medico International hosted the first conference on EU Turkey and the Kurds in the European Parliament. As an outcome of this historic event, these organisations and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales established a standing Civic Commission, the EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). Due to the vibrancy of the dialogue of the 2004 conference, a second EUTCC conference was held in September 2005. The EUTCC is in favour of Turkish EU membership because the EU route remains the greatest hope for securing a civilised, democratic and pluralist Turkey in which a negotiated political solution to the Kurdish question is realised, but only if progress towards membership is based on tangible improvements in the protection of human rights and freedoms and the tackling of the plight of the Kurds is firmly integrated into accession negotiations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the Board of Directors, EUTCC, Tel: +47 555 88 797
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Jon Rud, Secretary General, EUTCC, Tel: +34.965846645
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Kerim Yildiz , Treasurer, EUTCC, Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 3835
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Hege Ekeland, Project Assistant, EUTCC, Tel: +47 93 22 17 36
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