Default title
18 March 1998
54th session of the Commission on Human Rights
16 March - 24 April 1998
Statement by H.E. Mr. Hikmet Sami Turk
State Minister in charge of Human Rights of Turkey
Geneva, 18 March 1998
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a member of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, I have the honour to address this august body. This year, the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has a special importance, as it coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fifth anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action. On this occasion, I wish you success in your important task for the protection and promotion of human rights in the world.
The United Nations has been pioneering for the last half a century for upholding the universal values of human rights. Looking back, Mr. Chairman, we all appreciate the arduous work the UN and especially this Commission have accomplished since its establishment. In 1948, the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been a landmark achievement in the protection and promotion of human rights. Turkey, as one of the founding members of the UN, was among the first States which adopted this Declaration. In its fiftieth anniversary, we uphold and emphasize with the same spirit and vigour the fundamental values laid down by this historical document.
Moreover, we welcome the successful conclusion of the work on the draft Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. We wish that this landmark Declaration be adopted by consensus at this session.
Mr. Chairman,
The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social State governed by the rule of law. The Republic, founded under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk following a great empire, is based on the respect for human rights. Fundamental principles such as the rule of law and equality before the law, which are inherent to human rights, have been embodied in all our constitutions in the Republican era. In this context, Turkey adopted equality of women and men much earlier than many other countries and granted the women the right to elect and to be elected in the 1930s.
Mr. Chairman,
Human rights are a great ideal for humanity. Therefore it denotes an evolutionary process. Hence, a constant endeavor is needed to achieve perfection in human rights. This is evident, as particularly we see serious violations of human rights even in the most developed societies. For this reason, what is important for States, is to uphold this ideal, constantly review their legislation and practices according to the basic principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to put continuous efforts for the creation and promotion of a culture of human rights within the society.
In this context, I would like to express that we are greatly concerned with the spread of racism and xenophobia particularly in the Western Countries. More serious measures need to be taken to prevent racist atrocities against three million innocent Turkish citizens who live and work in Western Europe. We believe there is an important task lying ahead before the international community and equally, before this Commission for the prevention of societies from this evil trend. Racism is the basic cause of genocides encountered in the 20th century as the greatest crimes of humanity as well as ethnic cleansing which continues in alarming dimensions today. With this understanding, Turkey supports the World Summit on Racism and expects concrete results from this event. Hence, we attach great importance to the preparatory work at the Commission on Human Rights for this Summit Meeting. We have no doubt that the work of the Commission will be successfully concluded and will enlighten the international community on how to combat racism and xenophobia.
On the other hand, we equally welcome the work of this Commission on migrant workers. Although migrant workers contribute immensely to the economies of the countries they live in, they lack international guarantees to protect their minimum rights. This is an important issue which, I believe, the Human Rights Commission has to address. It is also of great importance that necessary legal and administrative measures be taken to prevent discrimination and human rights violations against the migrant workers and to have them integrated into the society they live in.
Mr. Chairman,
Turkey is a unitary Republic, which, in recent years has been faced with a separatist terror aiming at its territorial integrity and national unity. Our State has continued its struggle against terrorism, in order to protect its citizens, the territorial integrity of the country as well as its democracy, within the rule of law and human rights and has succeeded in doing so. The Government of Turkey believes that terrorism threatens the "right to life" which is at the base of all human rights and is therefore a grave violation of human rights. For this reason, as expressed in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and this Commission, we believe that the international community has an important responsibility for the prevention of international terrorism aiming at the lives of innocent people and the territorial integrity of countries. To date, the terrorist organization PKK has caused the loss of more than five thousand innocent civilian lives indiscriminately of children, elderly persons, men and women.
Here, once again, I invite the international community and this Commission to stand up with firm solidarity against terrorism wherever it takes place in the world and to condemn it as a grave violation of human rights. It should not be forgotten that this great danger of our age, which threatens countries such as Turkey today, is not yet known which country, which innocent people it will take target in the future. As in the previous years, Turkey will prepare a draft resolution on "Terrorism and Human Rights" this year. We expect that this Commission will adopt this draft resolution without voting.
Mr. Chairman,
As I have said before, no State in the world can claim perfection in the field of human rights. For that reason, the international human rights fora should be platforms where mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity prevail towards realizing the ideal of human rights in the world, instead of being used as arenas where a number of countries are accused with certain aims. With this understanding Turkey attributes great importance to full cooperation with the UN human rights system. We take all allegations of human rights violations seriously, investigate them thoroughly and present the results to the UN human rights mechanisms.
However, criticism levelled against any country should be impartial, fair and constructive. It is not possible for us to accept unfair, false and politically motivated accusations with double-standards which are generated by certain circles to keep countries like Turkey on the agenda to discredit them. However, we are open to all constructive and sincere criticism and cooperation.
Our Government, as stated in its Program, considers the freedoms of opinion and expression, conscience and religious belief and development of entrepreneurship, as the inalienable principles inherent to the social life, while carefully observing the democratic, secular and social characteristics and the principle of the rule of law of our Republic. We also consider the respect for human rights as an ideal of humanity as reflected in our Constitution and in the international instruments to which Turkey is a party. With this understanding, we are taking necessary measures to protect and promote human rights in Turkey according to contemporary and universal standards. Within this framework and in line with the expectations of our people, we are working on measures to expand further the fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens.
In addition to the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission established in 1990 to follow up human rights developments in Turkey as well as in the world, to ensure conformity of practices with these developments and to inquire the applications regarding the allegations of human rights violations, the Human Rights Coordinating High Committee, established by our Government, has been continuing its work on a wide variety of issues in the field of human rights. The High Committee, under my chairmanship as the State Minister in charge of human
rights and composed of the undersecretaries of the Prime Ministry, Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, National Education and Health Ministries, has so far taken over a hundred decisions in its 31 meetings. Some of these decisions are administrative regulations which have been duly put into force. Others deal with new legislative regulations.
In this context, for example, a draft law prepared to amend various provisions in our legislation regarding the freedom of opinion and expression, has been recently approved by the Council of Ministers and submitted to the Parliament. Another draft law prepared by the Ministry of Justice to replace the Turkish Penal Code has been also submitted to the Parliament. This draft involves the abolition of death penalty, which has not been implemented since 1984.
The Human Rights Coordinating High Committee attaches great importance also to education in order to build consciousness and to create a common culture in the field of human rights in the society. With this purpose, human rights lessons have been included in the primary and secondary school curricula. Our security forces are being trained on human rights issues. We are trying to spread over human rights consciousness to the masses at large via radio and TV programs. The High Committee is also eager to continue its work in a dialogue with various segments of the society. Within this framework, we organize meetings and consult with the non-governmental organizations, human rights and women's associations as well as with the academicians.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to submit to your kind attention that all these extensive efforts by our Government are being pursued in a period when this vicious campaign of terrorism, aiming at Turkey's territorial integrity, has been going on. It should carefully be noted that Turkey is among the rare countries which implements such an extensive program of human rights, while combating terrorism directed to its unity. Human rights issues have now gained social dimensions, in line with the importance attributed to this issue by our Government. Human rights issues have been discussed vividly in all their aspects in the current democratic environment of Turkey, by largely privately-owned radio and TV channels and by the independent press. We are fullyconfident that this lively environment for discussion would provide a sound basis for further steps to be taken in the field of human rights in Turkey.
With these thoughts, I respectfully greet you, Mr. Chairman and the members of this Commission as well as the Observer Government Delegations and NGO Representatives and wish you a resounding success in the current session.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
16 March - 24 April 1998
Statement by H.E. Mr. Hikmet Sami Turk
State Minister in charge of Human Rights of Turkey
Geneva, 18 March 1998
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a member of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, I have the honour to address this august body. This year, the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has a special importance, as it coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fifth anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action. On this occasion, I wish you success in your important task for the protection and promotion of human rights in the world.
The United Nations has been pioneering for the last half a century for upholding the universal values of human rights. Looking back, Mr. Chairman, we all appreciate the arduous work the UN and especially this Commission have accomplished since its establishment. In 1948, the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been a landmark achievement in the protection and promotion of human rights. Turkey, as one of the founding members of the UN, was among the first States which adopted this Declaration. In its fiftieth anniversary, we uphold and emphasize with the same spirit and vigour the fundamental values laid down by this historical document.
Moreover, we welcome the successful conclusion of the work on the draft Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. We wish that this landmark Declaration be adopted by consensus at this session.
Mr. Chairman,
The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social State governed by the rule of law. The Republic, founded under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk following a great empire, is based on the respect for human rights. Fundamental principles such as the rule of law and equality before the law, which are inherent to human rights, have been embodied in all our constitutions in the Republican era. In this context, Turkey adopted equality of women and men much earlier than many other countries and granted the women the right to elect and to be elected in the 1930s.
Mr. Chairman,
Human rights are a great ideal for humanity. Therefore it denotes an evolutionary process. Hence, a constant endeavor is needed to achieve perfection in human rights. This is evident, as particularly we see serious violations of human rights even in the most developed societies. For this reason, what is important for States, is to uphold this ideal, constantly review their legislation and practices according to the basic principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to put continuous efforts for the creation and promotion of a culture of human rights within the society.
In this context, I would like to express that we are greatly concerned with the spread of racism and xenophobia particularly in the Western Countries. More serious measures need to be taken to prevent racist atrocities against three million innocent Turkish citizens who live and work in Western Europe. We believe there is an important task lying ahead before the international community and equally, before this Commission for the prevention of societies from this evil trend. Racism is the basic cause of genocides encountered in the 20th century as the greatest crimes of humanity as well as ethnic cleansing which continues in alarming dimensions today. With this understanding, Turkey supports the World Summit on Racism and expects concrete results from this event. Hence, we attach great importance to the preparatory work at the Commission on Human Rights for this Summit Meeting. We have no doubt that the work of the Commission will be successfully concluded and will enlighten the international community on how to combat racism and xenophobia.
On the other hand, we equally welcome the work of this Commission on migrant workers. Although migrant workers contribute immensely to the economies of the countries they live in, they lack international guarantees to protect their minimum rights. This is an important issue which, I believe, the Human Rights Commission has to address. It is also of great importance that necessary legal and administrative measures be taken to prevent discrimination and human rights violations against the migrant workers and to have them integrated into the society they live in.
Mr. Chairman,
Turkey is a unitary Republic, which, in recent years has been faced with a separatist terror aiming at its territorial integrity and national unity. Our State has continued its struggle against terrorism, in order to protect its citizens, the territorial integrity of the country as well as its democracy, within the rule of law and human rights and has succeeded in doing so. The Government of Turkey believes that terrorism threatens the "right to life" which is at the base of all human rights and is therefore a grave violation of human rights. For this reason, as expressed in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and this Commission, we believe that the international community has an important responsibility for the prevention of international terrorism aiming at the lives of innocent people and the territorial integrity of countries. To date, the terrorist organization PKK has caused the loss of more than five thousand innocent civilian lives indiscriminately of children, elderly persons, men and women.
Here, once again, I invite the international community and this Commission to stand up with firm solidarity against terrorism wherever it takes place in the world and to condemn it as a grave violation of human rights. It should not be forgotten that this great danger of our age, which threatens countries such as Turkey today, is not yet known which country, which innocent people it will take target in the future. As in the previous years, Turkey will prepare a draft resolution on "Terrorism and Human Rights" this year. We expect that this Commission will adopt this draft resolution without voting.
Mr. Chairman,
As I have said before, no State in the world can claim perfection in the field of human rights. For that reason, the international human rights fora should be platforms where mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity prevail towards realizing the ideal of human rights in the world, instead of being used as arenas where a number of countries are accused with certain aims. With this understanding Turkey attributes great importance to full cooperation with the UN human rights system. We take all allegations of human rights violations seriously, investigate them thoroughly and present the results to the UN human rights mechanisms.
However, criticism levelled against any country should be impartial, fair and constructive. It is not possible for us to accept unfair, false and politically motivated accusations with double-standards which are generated by certain circles to keep countries like Turkey on the agenda to discredit them. However, we are open to all constructive and sincere criticism and cooperation.
Our Government, as stated in its Program, considers the freedoms of opinion and expression, conscience and religious belief and development of entrepreneurship, as the inalienable principles inherent to the social life, while carefully observing the democratic, secular and social characteristics and the principle of the rule of law of our Republic. We also consider the respect for human rights as an ideal of humanity as reflected in our Constitution and in the international instruments to which Turkey is a party. With this understanding, we are taking necessary measures to protect and promote human rights in Turkey according to contemporary and universal standards. Within this framework and in line with the expectations of our people, we are working on measures to expand further the fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens.
In addition to the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission established in 1990 to follow up human rights developments in Turkey as well as in the world, to ensure conformity of practices with these developments and to inquire the applications regarding the allegations of human rights violations, the Human Rights Coordinating High Committee, established by our Government, has been continuing its work on a wide variety of issues in the field of human rights. The High Committee, under my chairmanship as the State Minister in charge of human
rights and composed of the undersecretaries of the Prime Ministry, Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, National Education and Health Ministries, has so far taken over a hundred decisions in its 31 meetings. Some of these decisions are administrative regulations which have been duly put into force. Others deal with new legislative regulations.
In this context, for example, a draft law prepared to amend various provisions in our legislation regarding the freedom of opinion and expression, has been recently approved by the Council of Ministers and submitted to the Parliament. Another draft law prepared by the Ministry of Justice to replace the Turkish Penal Code has been also submitted to the Parliament. This draft involves the abolition of death penalty, which has not been implemented since 1984.
The Human Rights Coordinating High Committee attaches great importance also to education in order to build consciousness and to create a common culture in the field of human rights in the society. With this purpose, human rights lessons have been included in the primary and secondary school curricula. Our security forces are being trained on human rights issues. We are trying to spread over human rights consciousness to the masses at large via radio and TV programs. The High Committee is also eager to continue its work in a dialogue with various segments of the society. Within this framework, we organize meetings and consult with the non-governmental organizations, human rights and women's associations as well as with the academicians.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to submit to your kind attention that all these extensive efforts by our Government are being pursued in a period when this vicious campaign of terrorism, aiming at Turkey's territorial integrity, has been going on. It should carefully be noted that Turkey is among the rare countries which implements such an extensive program of human rights, while combating terrorism directed to its unity. Human rights issues have now gained social dimensions, in line with the importance attributed to this issue by our Government. Human rights issues have been discussed vividly in all their aspects in the current democratic environment of Turkey, by largely privately-owned radio and TV channels and by the independent press. We are fullyconfident that this lively environment for discussion would provide a sound basis for further steps to be taken in the field of human rights in Turkey.
With these thoughts, I respectfully greet you, Mr. Chairman and the members of this Commission as well as the Observer Government Delegations and NGO Representatives and wish you a resounding success in the current session.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.