For the past 26 months Turkey and Iran have been engaging in extensive cross-border military operations in northern Iraq, ostensibly with the purpose of fighting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), Kurdish separatist groups seen as threats to their national security. Mounting evidence indicates that far from being isolated cases of belligerence, these two states often work in concert with each other, harmonising their attacks. Despite persistent claims from both governments that these campaigns are only directed at the PKK and PJAK, a claim sustained by the media which largely portrays the air strikes and offences as being directed solely at military targets, multiple KHRP missions to northern Iraq have provided compelling evidence of the significant harm caused to the civilian population by Turkey and Iran’s ongoing operations.
This report builds on KHRP’s report of July 2008, ‘A Fact-Finding Mission in Kurdistan, Iraq: Gaps in the Human Rights Infrastructure’. Drawing on the statements of affected individuals, those providing humanitarian assistance to the affected and the observations of the mission members themselves, this new report details the ways in which these ongoing cross-border operations have detrimentally affected the lives of the inhabitants of the region. The operations have led to loss of life and debilitating injury, loss of livelihood and property, the destruction of traditional village modes of life and the traumatisation of the affected communities, especially children.
Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Turkey
For consideration by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the eighth session of the UPR Working Group in 2010
9 November 2009
NGO List of Issues for the Review of the Turkish Government Under the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Submitted by the Kurdish Human Rights Project in July 2009
NGO Coalition Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Armenia
For consideration by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the eighth session of the UPR Working Group in 2010
9 November 2009
This report is based on the findings of a mission dispatched to Turkey by KHRP in May 2009 following reports of widespread detentions and investigations of pro-Kurdish politicians and activists in the aftermath of the March 2009 local elections. The mission travelled to the provinces of Şırnak, Siirt, Mardin, Batman and Diyarbakır, collecting information regarding impunity of state officials, women’s access to justice and restrictions on the work of human rights defenders. Concerns highlighted include the persistence of a culture of impunity among state officials responsible for human rights violations, widespread practice of violence against women, lack of mechanisms for protection and redress for victims of violence, harassing of human rights defenders. Underlying those issues is the lack of implementation of the many legal instruments for the protection of human rights.
The fact-finding mission report places these findings in the context of Turkey’s international human rights obligations and offers concrete recommendations for addressing those concerns.
This report covers the key proceedings of the fourth in a series of annual conferences organised by the EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), which took place at the European Parliament in Brussels from 3 to 4 December 2007. The event was hosted by the founders of the EUTCC, namely the Bar Human Rights Committee, the Kurdish Human Rights Project, medico international and the Thorolf Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, and was supported by members of the European Parliament. Topics addressed in the course of the conference included the progress of democratisation and legislative reform in Turkey, and the prospects for dialogue and conflict-resolution. The report includes the full texts of the speeches and final resolutions, as well as a background paper distributed at the conference.
The EUTCC was established in November 2004 as the outcome of the first international Conference on ‘The EU, Turkey and the Kurds’ held in the European Parliament in Brussels on 22-23 November 2004. The EUTCC aims to both promote and provide suggestions for Turkey’s bid for EU accession, and to help guarantee respect for human and minority rights and a peaceful, democratic and long-term solution to the Kurdish situation. The EUTCC monitors and conducts regular audits of Turkey’s compliance with the accession criteria, as defined in the accession agreements. It also makes recommendations, acts as a point of contact, and exchanges information, with the institutions of the EU and other governmental and non-governmental organisations.
'Fifth International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds Continues in Brussels'
KHRP press release from 29 January 2009 translated into Arabic and Sorani
‘Fifth International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds Opens at European Parliament’
KHRP press release from 28 January 2009 translated into Arabic and Sorani
'Fifth Annual EUTCC Conference Comes to an End'
KHRP press release from 29 January 2009 translated into Arabic and Sorani
This report is based on the findings of a mission dispatched to Turkey by KHRP in December 2008 following reports by media and regional partners of increased violations of prisoners’ rights. The mission travelled to İstanbul, Ankara, Mardin and Diyarbakır, interviewing former prisoners, prisoners’ families, NGOs, human rights advocates and lawyers.
Concerns highlighted by the mission include routine ill-treatment, arbitrary punishments without adequate recourse to appeal, arbitrary restrictions on visiting and language rights, overcrowding and the high proportion of inmates in the system who are still awaiting trial. Underlying these problems is a lack of proper accountability and independent oversight within the prison system.
The report places these findings in the context of Turkey’s international human rights obligations and offers concrete recommendations for improving protection of prisoners’ rights.
Speech Delivered by KHRP Executive Director Kerim Yıldız at the Fifth International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds, European Parliament, Brussels, 28-29 January 2009