|
For a future based on justice, equality and the rule of law |
You are here:
Visit Our Online Shop
Online Shop
List All Products |
|
|
Advanced Search |
|
| Show Cart | |
| Your Cart is currently empty. |
Contact Details
KHRP11 Guilford Street London
WC1N 1DH UK
Tel: 00 44 20 7405-3835
Fax: 00 44 20 7404-9088
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
header_image1.jpg
Downloads
Downloads Home » Briefing Papers and Speeches
DocumentsDate added
-
The Role of Women in Civil society, Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Reconstruction
-
Speech delivered by KHRP Deputy Director Rachel Bernu at the OSCE Civil Society Forum, 2-3 December 2008, Helsinki.
-
Response to the European Commission's 2008 Turkey Progress Report
-
Response of the Kurdish Human Rights Project to the 2008 Turkey Progress Report, Published by the European Commission on 5 November 2008.
-
Freedom of Association and Labour Rights Under Threat: The Situation of Trade Unions in Turkey
-
This briefing paper assesses the extent to which the situation of trade unions in Turkey has changed in recent years, in the context of the country’s bid to accede to the European Union. The evidence suggests that the Turkish state is yet to recognise the valuable role that trade unions have to play as necessary social partners within the democratic system. Several pieces of Turkish legislation remain at odds with its commitments to respect trade union rights under various international agreements. In practice, too, the Turkish authorities continue to violate the rights of employees – particularly those working in the public sector – to associate freely, to bargain collectively and to go on strike. The situation is particularly bad in the Kurdish regions of south-east Turkey, where violations of trade union rights are exacerbated by a de facto state of emergency, restrictions on expressions of Kurdish culture, and factors such as poverty, discrimination and displacement.
-
Human Rights and the Kurds in Syria: Discrimination and Repression
-
Speech Delivered by KHRP Deputy Director Rachel Bernu at an Event at the Houses of Parliament on 21 October 2008 entitled ‘Human Rights and the Kurds in Syria: Discrimination and Repression’
-
Submissions to the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2008
-
Submissions made by KHRP to the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held in Warsaw from 29 September to 10 October 2008.
-
Turkeys Anti-Terror Laws: Threatening the Protection of Human Rights
-
This briefing paper explores Turkish anti-terror legislation in the wake of amendments in 2006 that brought into effect a series of draconian provisions which fail to meet the country’s human rights obligations under international law and which have in practice been used to violate the human rights of it citizens. In particular, the new law fails to respect international human rights obligations by containing a definition of terrorism which is too wide and vague, by increasing the range of crimes that can count as terrorist offences, and by posing a serious threat to the freedoms of expression and association, the right to a fair trial, and the prohibition of torture. Such legislation only serves to further the deterioration seen in the human rights situation in Turkey since 2005 and should therefore be amended.
-
The Human Rights Impact of Mass Displacement Caused by the Construction of the Ilisu Dam
-
Speech delivered by Anna Irvin, Development and Outreach Officer, Kurdish Human Rights Project, at El Faro civil society pavilion at the “Water and Sustainability”-themed Zaragoza Expo, 3 July 2008, and at the Foro Mundial de las Luchas del Agua side event, 4 July 2008
-
Protecting Politicians or Protecting Democracy? Parliamentary Immunity and Party Closure in Turkey
-
The formation of a Democratic Society Party (DTP) group in parliament following the July 2007 general elections in Turkey gave a pro-Kurdish party representation in the country’s parliament for the first time in 14 years. Since then, prosecutors have filed a number of requests to have the parliamentary immunity of DTP MPs lifted in order to pave the way for legal proceedings against them, and have instigated proceedings to have the party shut down. In March this year, a closure case was also opened against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). KHRP’s latest briefing paper explores the mechanisms available in Turkey for the lifting of parliamentary immunity and the shutting down of political parties, and the ways in which these mechanisms have been employed in the relentless pursuit of parties and politicians by unelected agents.
-
Speech; The Role of Kurdish Women in Dialogue, Conflict Resolution and the Struggle for Human Rights
- Speech delivered by KHRP Deputy Director Rachel Bernu at a seminar entitled 'the role of Kurdish women in dialogue, conflict resolution and reconstruction' at Garden Court Chambers, 24/05/2008
-
Turkish Attacks on Kurdistan, Iraq 2007/8: Background, Motives and Human Rights Impact
-
Since late October 2007, Turkey has been carrying out cross-border military operations, bombardments and air-raids in Kurdistan, Iraq. Turkey has attempted to justify these operations under the pretext of its ongoing fight against the PKK.
This latest KHRP Briefing Paper discusses these developments, demonstrating how the attacks should be understood in the broader context of Turkey’s long-standing strategic goals in countering regional Kurdish autonomy, goals it shares with Iran and Syria. The paper refers to recent KHRP research in the region showing that Turkey’s operations have been in gross violation of the Geneva conventions, causing extensive harm to civilian life and property in parts of northern Iraq with little actual impact on the capabilities of the PKK. The paper also discusses the international reaction to the attacks, and calls upon the US, EU and all other parties with an interest in maintaining stability in the region to condemn the attacks and urge Turkey to pursue constructive and non-military measures to secure peace in the region.
