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KHRP highlights the abuses suffered by human rights defenders on Human Rights Day 2010 |
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The theme for the 2010 International Human Rights Day is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. Human Rights Defenders across the Kurdish regions work on a daily basis to end discrimination, whether it is against Kurds, other cultural or linguistic minorities, religious or political minorities, women, or sexual minorities. Today, KHRP would like to remind everyone about just how difficult their work is and to applaud them for it.
In November 2010, KHRP submitted a shadow report to UN Committee against Torture regarding the situation in Turkey, outlining the most pressing human rights concerns in Turkey over the past four years. The report provided evidence that the Kurds suffer unduly from torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, and stressed that such human rights abuses are primarily a result of the culture of impunity that is entrenched in the Turkish criminal justice system. Consequently human rights defenders are targeted by the State for giving a voice to those that are being suppressed. Under Turkey’s draconian anti-terror legislation minorities are disproportionately arrested, detained and convicted as political prisoners, many of them suffering treatment which violates both CAT and other international human rights instruments to which Turkey is a party. Certain provisions of Turkey’s current legislation pave the way for systematic violations of freedom of expression and freedom of association. Such laws facilitate the interference in the efforts of human rights defenders to communicate legitimate criticism of the state and its representatives. Further, problems are posed by legislation specifically regulating the establishment and functioning of NGOs.
KHRP also submitted a report in December to the Human Rights Committee monitoring the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights concerning Iran. The report highlights how the Iranian authorities use arbitrary detention and prosecutions as a means of restricting or preventing the expression of views seen as a threat to the status quo. This particularly obstructs the work of journalists, human rights defenders, political and social activists, students, teachers and union leaders, large numbers of whom have fled Iran during the past year and live as refugees in neighboring Turkey.
KHRP Chief Executive Kerim Yildiz said today, “The vital work human rights defenders do, often at great personal risk, deserves the support and recognition of the international community. Without the determination and commitment that they give to fighting injustice and ending discrimination, many human rights violations against minority or other marginalized groups would be swept under the carpet.” |
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Support KHRP Today and Help Better the Lives of More Than 30 Million |
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Here at KHRP, we want to help create a future based on justice, equality and the rule of law, for those living in the Kurdish regions, but also globally. Of course this is no small task, which is why we are appealing to all of our friends and supporters to lend a helping hand. As a new year dawns, we are calling on you to help us raise vital funds in support of KHRP’s continued work to promote and protect human rights across the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucasus.
In 2009, we have witnessed many changes in these regions, such as in the way that Kurdish rights are now being discussed and considered. But as you will have read in our news bulletins, there is still much to achieve in the upcoming year. The ongoing persecution and discrimination felt by the ordinary person living in the Kurdish regions, continues to demand a consistent and long-term response. By fighting for legislative change and advancing human rights and the rule of law, we can make a difference to the lives of more than 30 million people living there and elsewhere, in a durable and more sustainable way.  Children in Kurdish region in Turkey. Photographer: Bea Yates
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KHRP Secures its Place on GlobalGiving Website |
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Thanks to the kind hearted support of its friends and supporters, KHRP is delighted to announce that it has raised £2,386 from 81 donors during last month’s GlobalGiving Project Challenge. A further €5,000 has also been pledged.
Coming in third place by only £25, KHRP missed the chance to win an extra £500 award from GlobalGiving. However, it secured its principle goal of securing a permanent place on the website which allows it global exposure to a wider supporter base.  Kurdish woman on trial in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Photo: Ed Kashi
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KHRP speaks to MEPs at the European Parliament on the Situation of Women in the Kurdish Regions |
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KHRP’s Managing Director is today delivering a seminar at the European Parliament in Brussels, on the situation of women in the Kurdish regions. The seminar is the third in the KHRP’s series of lunchtime seminars that have been hosted by Jean Lambert MEP and held at the Parliament. Today’s meeting is chaired by Franziska Keller MEP, member of the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The seminar series seeks to draw attention to and discuss human rights issues in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. KHRP aims to bring together key members of the European Parliament to discuss areas of concern around human rights, the environment and regional security in the Kurdish regions. Past seminars have addressed the environmental impact of Turkey and Iran’s cross border military operations into Kurdistan Iraq and the situation of Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs throughout the regions.
The third seminar will discuss how women throughout the Kurdish regions are disproportionately affected by crimes against their person and their property, and continue to face a range of barriers to accessing legal remedies that are theoretically available to them. Issues to be addressed will include language barriers, a lack of awareness amongst women of their rights, severe failings in the provision of legal aid and medical examinations, and the routine failure of officials to take complaints by women seriously and to implement legislation intended to afford them protection.
The seminar seeks to provide recommendations on how state authorities, such as the police, legislators, prosecutors or judges, can increase their protection of women victims of discrimination and violence, and to consider potential action points for the European Union to take.
Managing Director Rachel Bernu noted, ‘Many women across the Kurdish regions are suffering from intolerable levels of discrimination and violence. The EU must engage with the governments in these regions to improve the situation of women and actively contribute to promoting their rights. In order to assist in this, these seminars are important for raising awareness in Europe on human rights issues, especially those of women, in the Kurdish areas.’
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KHRP Collects Prestigious Gruber Prize for Justice. |
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The U.S.-based Gruber Foundation's International Justice Prize was awarded to the Kurdish Human Rights Project on Thursday, 6th October 2011. Chief Executive Kerim Yildiz and Managing Director Rachel Bernu attended the award ceremony of the eleventh and final Gruber Justice Prize, which took place in Philadelphia’s National Constitutional Centre. KHRP was among five laureates this year who share a $500,000 award, in recognition of their work in advancing the cause of justice delivered through the legal system.
In particular, KHRP was recognised for its use of a variety legal instruments in protecting human rights and seeking redress for violations, including bringing cases on behalf of hundreds of applicants at the European Court of Human Rights and its on the ground field missions. The prize award notes the importance of KHRP’s consistent presence over the last 19 years as well as the notable reforms and successes on a wide range of issues, from preventing conflict over water in Turkey, Iraq and Syria to receiving a landmark judgment in the European Court toward the abolition of capital punishment.
During his acceptance speech, Kerim Yildiz, KHRP’s Chief Executive described the background to the organization: ‘We established an NGO named the Kurdish Human Rights Project in England with British lawyers and other human rights advocates in partnership with regionally based non-profit organisations and bar associations to give international recognition to not only the Kurds but also to shine a spotlight on the region in order to develop a more nuanced understanding of the injustice that anyone who lived in those regions faced. In short, by addressing the so-called Kurdish problem head-on, justice would be far more achievable for all who lived in those regions… KHRP has grown from an idea based on the basic principle that everyone deserves justice’.
He acknowledged that ‘the recognition from Gruber for our body of work is an important driving force that will help to ensure that as we consider these questions, we do so with great care and with awareness that pushes us to continue to be at the forefront of respect for human rights regionally and internationally’.
The website of the Gruber Foundation’s International Justice Prize can be found here.
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