ANKARA - Turkey had recorded significant progress in showing zero tolerance towards torture, mal-treatment and discrimination, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday.
Arinc received United Nations Development Program (UNDEP) Permanent Representative in Turkey Jakob Simonse and United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Chairperson Prof. Dr. Feride Acar.
Speaking in the meeting, Arinc recalled that Turkey had adopted Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1985 and put it into practice in 1986.
Arinc said that Acar handed over the CEDAW mission in Turkey in 2003 and noted, ''Acar is serving a very important committee of the U.N. as a Turkish woman. This is an honor for Turkey. I wish her success.''
Stressing that Turkey had granted woman the suffrage right and right to be elected earlier than many European countries, Arinc said that Turkey had passed very important laws on women's rights and women-men equality in recent years.
Arinc added, ''Turkey has made significant amendments both to the Constitution, the Civil Code and Turkish Penal Code. Turkey passed a law on protection of family in order to protect women against violence in the family. The new Civil Code entered into force in January 2002. Lifting reduction of punishment given to those who commit honor killings under Turkish Penal Code can be considered among similar steps. In general, Turkey has recorded significant progress in showing zero tolerance towards torture, mal-treatment and discrimination.''
(BRC-AÖ) 31.03.2004