Kurdish Human Rights Project

Telephone Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director/Rachel Bernu, Deputy Director on +44 (0) 207 405 3835

Thursday 10 August 2006

Press Release: For immediate release

Turkey failing to eradicate torture and ill-treatment

Despite taking steps towards establishing the infrastructure necessary to remedy the prevalence of torture and ill-treatment within its territory, the Turkish state continues to fall short of conforming to internationally recognised standards.

With the prospect of EU membership looming, state rhetoric has taken an increasingly firm stance against torture while simultaneously making great strides to combat torture through legislation. However, regrettably, the culture of ‘might is right' remains pervasive in the justice system.

Despite positive legal reforms it remains unclear whether these are but cosmetic changes. Consistent implementation and further reforms are imperative in order to engender a culture of respect for the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, reverse the perception of citizens as weak and state agents as invulnerable and to address state agents' intransigent stance towards bringing perpetrators within their ranks to justice.

Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) is releasing this briefing paper which draws together the latest research on the status of torture and ill-treatment to express grave concern that far from abating, in some areas, instances of torture and ill-treatment in Turkey have worsened  in 2005-06.

KHRP, ‘Torture in Turkey : The Current Status of Torture and Ill-treatment' is available to download at http://www.khrp.org/publish/p2006/06M.htm

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director/Rachel Bernu, Deputy Director at:

Kurdish Human Rights Project, 11 Guilford Street , London , WC1N 1DH

Tel: 020 7405 3835            

khrp@khrp.org

www.khrp.org

Kurdish Human Rights Project is an independent, non-political human rights organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all people in the Kurdish regions.  It is a registered charity, founded and based in London

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