Non-governmental Organizations Issue Joint Press Statement

WE WELCOME LEGAL REFORMS, BUT CONCERNS CONTINUE ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION

ANKARA - Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said they welcomed legal reforms in Turkey, but their concerns continued about shortcomings in current legislation and the implementation of the reforms.
During a press conference on Thursday in Ankara, Amnesty International (AI) Representative in Turkey Emnma Sinclair-Webb announced a joint press statement by the AI, the Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) and Mazlum Der.
The statement said representatives of those six NGOs had met Turkish officials in Ankara this week and they had witnessed ''historic events like introduction of public broadcasting in different languages and release of four former DEP parliamentarians.''
''The NGOs welcome many of the legal reforms which have been introduced in the recent past. However, concerns continue about shortcomings in current legislation and the implementation of the reforms. The NGOs urged the Turkish authorities to take urgent practical measures to ensure the full protection of human rights. Concerns were expressed about continuing allegations of torture and ill-treatment; violations of the freedoms of expression, assembly, association and religion, and the right to fair trial.''
Noting that NGOs delegation had also raised concerns about lack of independent investigations into human rights violations, the statement said, ''the serious and constructive dialogue that took place showed that the Turkish authorities are increasingly open to consultation with human rights organizations.''
The statement added that NGOs had urged the Turkish government to consult civil society more systematically over future reforms.
(MS-AÖ) 10.06.2004