Human Rights Association Co-Chair: Judicial Power of President Should Be Reviewed

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Human rights defenders have made a statement for the press regarding the report that they presented to the Ministry of Justice concerning the ministry's work entitled "Preparation of a New Action Plan for Human Rights."

Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Central Council member Selma Güngör spoke at the statement held at İHD Central Office in Ankara today (March 6).

Report offers recommendations for violations

On February 14, rights organizations met Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül and his delegation as part of the "Preparation of a New Action Plan for Human Rights" subtopic of the second 100-day action plan of the government. The organizations have then presented a report to the ministry regarding the points that they did not find the opportunity to touch upon.

The following organizations have signed the report: Human Rights Association (İHD), Truth Justice Memory Center, Association for Monitoring Equal Rights (AMER), Citizens' Assembly, Diyarbakır Bar Association, Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Rights Initiative Association, Civil Society in the Penal System (CİSST).

The report submitted to ministry has offered a series of recommendations on "right to life and torture", "protection from dishonorable practices and maltreatment", "right of freedom and security" and "the right to a fair trial."

"Drawing up a new Constitution is imperative"

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Türkdoğan stated that the action plan of 2014 was not put into practice and made the following remarks:

"It is imperative that a new Constitution based on human rights and guaranteeing all types of minority rights is drawn up.

"The political will to be displayed to the public regarding the preparation of a new Constitution is important.

"Until entering the process of a new Constitution, two basic provisions in the current Constitution, which would prevent the implementation of the human rights action plan, should be changed immediately.

"Authority of issuing decrees should be lifted"

"As indicated in the report of Venice Commission, the judicial powers of the President should be reviewed, the necessary changes for the establishment of an independent judiciary should be introduced, the authority of President to issue decrees on economic, social and cultural rights should be lifted.

"New policies for a peaceful solution"

"The conflict-ridden process should be stopped and new policies should be introduced to solve problems in peace and dialogue so that Turkey can be democratized and the problems of human rights can be minimized."

Emphasizing the role of the judiciary to be played in implementing the action plan for human rights, Türkdoğan concluded his remarks by saying, "Within this context, it is very important that our report is taken into consideration. We will be a follower of this process and we are inviting everyone to be a follower of the process as well." (AS/SD)