Human Rights at Halt in 2006

Social peace, struggle against the reigning culture of violence and fight for social rights are among the priorities for them in 2007.

International Federation of Human Rights vice chair Akin Birdal, Human Rights Association (İHD) chair Yusuf Alatas, The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) chair Yavuz Onen, Association for Human Rights and Solidarity with the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER) chair Ayhan Bilgen, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly director of immigrants support programme Ozlem Dalkıran and İHD executive committee member Feray Salman summoned up the developments to bianet as we leave 2006 behind.

Birdal: Kurdish conflict must be solved

Birdal starts of by saying that the unsolved Kurdish problem continues to lay the ground for rights violations.

"Promoting, protecting and improving human rights is possible only in an environment where there's no violence. Only by then we can start talking, discussing freely", he adds.

Globalization's having a negative affect on rights related issues says Birdal, noting the escalating wave of violence in the Middle East. He warns that upcoming presidential and general elections in Turkey may cause political crises and this may hinder the democratic process.

"Because the individual, political rights and freedoms are defied, we can't even begin discussing on cultural, economic and social rights. However, all research show us that -especially in Eastern Turkey- poverty is frighteningly paramount".

Bilgen: Reform of prison facilities

Bilgen presents an optimist view: the ceasefire declared by the pro-Kurdish guerillas and the series of acquittals on freedom of expression cases could be noted with smiling faces in 2006.

On the other hand, the continuing hunger strikes and demands of reform in prison facilities needs urgent attention. Bilgen says, a reform on electoral procedures, which would allow a fairer representation in the parliament, is also needed.

Alatas: Social rights neglected

Alatas says that 2006 was lost with regard to human rights and he listed the priorities in 2007 as follows:

* We have to interrogate the reasons why social peace isn't established. We need to find ways to voice peace as loud as the ones that fight because peace is a problem of people, not governments.

* Society as a whole must begin a struggle against violence. That is domestic violence, violence on the streets, violence towards children as well.

"While there's not a hierachy between human rights, when everybody's concerned about their very livelihood in an environment of conflict, poverty, hunger, injustices are neglected. All NGO's and organizations must collaborate for social rights".

Anti-capitalist struggle

Feray Salman agrees: "In 2007, we need for and most a political will committed to human rights. Without such, all steps are doomed to be pragmatic, unsustainable. We've to approach our problems on rights bases".

Evaluating developments on a global scale as well as national, Yavuz Onen thinks 2006 led to the clarification of sides on the scale of freedoms and human rights.

In consequence, 2007 will witness a harsh struggle to shift the balance between those powers, those sides.

Onen approaches the issue with a critical look on global capitalism, noting that abondoning the social welfare state and replacing it with plain market economy took all rights as back as possible.

"Capitalism neglects right to education, health or environmental issues. We've to bring forward waht's neglected and a political organization is urgent to this end".

Finally, Ozlem Dalkıran mentions two positive developments in 2006: UN's initiative to put into force the International Treaty on the Commerce of Weapons and legislative precautions against violence towards women and children.

"Government is trying to take some steps but they have to work with rights organizations on this road". (TK/EU)