DocumentsDate added

Dissenting Voices: Freedom of Expression and Association in Turkey - Fact Finding Mission Report

A joint fact-finding mission to Turkey conducted by KHRP and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) investigated the rights of certain groups fundamental to the protection of civil and political rights. The report details the protection currently afforded to journalists, writers, artists and human rights defenders, particularly since the introduction of wide-ranging pro-EU reforms recently enacted in Turkey. The mission finds that despite legislative reforms to encourage freedom of expression and freedom of association many lawyers, journalists and political activists continue to experience harassment by the state. The mission concludes that the Turkish government must commit to genuine press freedom and freedom of expression and further calls upon the EU to take on a more active role in emphasising the importance of genuine implementation of these rights.

ISBN: 1900175908

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

Freedom of Expression and of Association in Turkey

Freedom of Expression and of Association in Turkey - Camille Overson Hensler and Mark Muller

As the continuing prosecutions of journalists, publishers, human rights defenders, novelists and artists continue, it is clear that there remain concerns over freedom of expression and freedom of association in Turkey. In spite of measures taken to improve prospects of EU accession, there is disquieting evidence that violations of freedom of expression and of association have in fact been increasing over the past few months. This report provides a background to the situation of Kurds in Turkey and of the government's international obligations. It evaluates the efficacy of a range of pro-EU reforms passed, and concludes that much remains to be done before Turkey could be set to meet European standards on civil and political rights.

ISBN: 1900175940

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

KHRP Legal Review 8 (2005)

This is the only existing legal journal covering significant legislative and policy developments in the Kurdish regions of Turkey , Iraq , Iran , Syria and elsewhere.  Published biannually, this edition covers the period from June to December 2005, including summaries and analysis of all of the most significant European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decisions.  Uniquely, this journal includes information about new cases that have not yet reached any judicial decision; but nonetheless provide invaluable updates about the most recent allegations of human rights violations to be submitted to international courts and mechanisms.  This edition features news and updates on all the Kurdish regions, as well as eight new communicated cases, five admissibility decisions and 23 judgments of the ECtHR.  Declan O'Callaghan, barrister, analyses the sufficiency of legal protection from torture or ill-treatment afforded to prisoners under interrogation; while Sharon Linzey, professor of sociology, examines the right to compensation afforded to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Turkey.  The journal is of interest to lawyers, human rights defenders and NGO representatives in the Kurdish regions and elsewhere.

ISSN 1748-0639          £8.00+P&P

• Details

International Conference on Turkey , the Kurds and the EU: European Parliament, Conference Papers

International Conference on Turkey, the Kurds and the EU: European Parliament, Brussels, 22-23 November 2004 - Conference Papers

KHRP hosted a historic conference with its partner organisations in November 2004 on "The EU, Turkey and the Kurds", convened in part in response to the European Commission's failure to address the situation of the Kurds. The conference called for the establishment of a standing Civic Commission on Turkish EU accession. As a result, KHRP, Medico International, Rafto Foundation and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) set up the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) to monitor Turkey's EU accession. This publication gathers together all the papers presented at the first conference.

ISBN: 1900175878

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

Recognition of linguistic rights? The impact of pro-EU reforms in Turkey : Fact Finding Mission

A joint fact-finding mission to Turkey's south-east conducted by KHRP, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) and the EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) investigated the current restrictions on linguistic rights enjoyed by minorities in Turkey and the efficacy of pro-EU reforms. The mission found that demand for Kurdish language education remains high. The mission concluded that lifting restrictions on education and broadcasting in Kurdish would be a giant step towards a multicultural, pluralist and ultimately peaceful Turkey.

ISBN: 1900175932

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

The Status of Internally Displaced Kurds in Turkey and Compensation Rights: FFM Report

The Status of Internally Displaced Kurds in Turkey and Compensation Rights: Fact Finding Mission Report

A fact-finding mission to Turkey's south-east conducted by KHRP, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) and the EU-Turkey Civic Commission investigated the current status of the region's internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their rights to compensation. In conducting its research, the mission interviewed IDPs living in slums in Diyarkakir, local and national NGO representatives, and representatives of political parties concerned with the law. The mission found that the capacity of Turkey's "Law on Compensation for Damage Arising from Terror and Combating Terror" (Law No. 5233) to bring about justice was dramatically reduced by the law's prohibitive provisions. It concludes that Law No. 5233 is failing to dramatically improve the situation of IDPs in Turkey, and to protect their basic human rights. The report urges the Turkish Government to seriously reconsider its policy towards IDPs.

ISBN 1 900175916

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

Enforcing the Charter for the Rights and Freedoms of Women in the Kurdish Regions and Diaspora

This new training manual, published jointly by Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) and Kurdish Women's Project (KWP), seeks to provide advice to women in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the diaspora on enforcing their rights and freedoms.

The manual complements the 'Charter for the Rights and Freedoms of Women in the Kurdish Regions and Diaspora', published in 2004. The Charter represents a collective effort urge the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Kurdish women and to promote the participation of women in policy and decision-making at all levels. This manual offers comprehensive guidance about the application of the Charter at a grassroots level. It also aims to articulate the experiences of Kurdish women in their attempts to implement the Charter in their daily lives.

Importantly, the manual continues by providing a general overview of the enforcement mechanisms available both to women's organisations and to women generally who wish to enforce the principles enshrined in the Charter. In so doing, it focuses on UN and Council of Europe bodies most relevant to women and violations of international law committed against them. Overall, the manual is intended to make the experience of using the Charter a more accessible and constructive process.

ISBN 1 900175 83 5

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £ 10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

Pumping Poverty: Britain's Department for International Development and the Oil Industry

Researched and written by PLATFORM Research

KHRP has endorsed a report by PLATFORM Research which investigates the role of British overseas development aid in facilitating oil development. The report, published by PLATFORM Research, Friends of the Earth and Plan B, concludes that the UK Department for International Development (DFID) is strongly supporting oil extraction in the developing world to the detriment of the world's poor. In particular, development aid is used to reform developing countries' oil taxation and regulation regimes to better favour British business interests. This is despite DFID's explicitly stated goals to eliminate poverty in the developing world through sustainable development. Oil extraction tends to generate suffering among a country's poor, whose energy needs are better met through small-scale, renewable energy sources, and instead serves the energy needs of the developed world.

KHRP has played a key role in drawing attention to the adverse impacts of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline on affected communities in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, and in opposing DFID's support for multi-lateral financing of the project.

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £ 10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

Freedom of expression at risk: writers on trial in Turkey - Trial observation report

This report provides the findings of a trial observation mission to Turkey to observe the trials of two prominent intellectuals. The first, writer and publisher Ragip Zarakolu, is currently facing prosecution for 'inciting hatred on the grounds of social class, race, religion, sect or region' for an article he wrote expressing the right of Kurdish people to self-determination. The second concerns the renowned writer Fikret Baskaya, charged with publishing two articles alleged to 'insult the Republic or. the judicial organs, military or security institutions'. Both have previously served terms of imprisonment for part articles they have written or published.

The report highlights elements of the proceedings against the writers which potentially breach international fair trial standards. It also examines the obstacles faced by writers, journalists, authors, publishers and artists in Turkey when trying to exercise their right to freedom of expression. The mission concludes that these obstacles are continuing, in spite of the pro-EU reforms recently enacted into domestic legislature.

 

Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £ 10.00 (+ P&P)

• Details

KHRP Legal Review 7 (2005)

The KHRP Legal Review is the only existing legal journal considering significant developments in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and elsewhere. Published biannually, it is intended to build capacity among NGOs, lawyers and human rights defenders by providing clear guidance, updates and analysis of issues relevant to the regions. This edition provides the findings of recent trial observation missions to the regions and of a recent conference concerning Turkey's accession to the EU. It also evaluates progressive projects to develop women's rights. It provides an analysis of the Divisional Court's judgment in Al-Skeini v Secretary of State for the Defense and of the supervisory system of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). Civil society developments in Iraq are also featured, together with an analysis of the controversial issue of wearing religious symbols in state schools.

ISBN 1748-0639 Copies of this report are available from the KHRP for £ 8.00 (+ P&P)

• Details