Red Card from UN for Turkey's Water Policies

The United Nations (UN) Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights claimed that with the constructions of dams and hydroelectric power plants the Turkish government seriously violates several human rights defined in the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Committee stressed the dam constructions in Ilısu, Munzur and Çoruh in particular.

The Committee proposed, "We recommend that the State party reconsider its dam policy as a matter of principle. In doing so it should give special attention to considering the cumulative nation-wide impacts of its dam policy and to ensure a participatory approach providing for meaningful consultation of civil society and the free prior and informed consent of affected communities as well as that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that no form of discrimination is involved".

The UN urged Turkey for an immediate review of the law and regulations.

The UN organization monitors its member states within the scope of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and researches via corresponding committees whether each country meets its responsibilities regarding economic, social and cultural rights. The report on Turkey was issued on 20 May 2011.

The UN report determined violations of the right to an adequate standard of living including the right to food, water and housing (Article 11 of the Covenant), the right to health (Art. 12) and to take part in cultural life (Art. 15).

Moreover, the Committee found additional rights violations: "The fact that

vulnerable groups like nomads, Alevi, Kurds and the rural poor carry a disproportionate burden of dam-related impacts constitutes a discrimination in effect, violating art. 2.2 of the Covenant. The failure of the State party to pursue a human rights oriented approach to forced evictions further violates art. 4 of the Covenant".

The UN body urged Turkey to improve its approach by founding it on human rights. The Committee requested the government to enforce legal amendments of the laws on expropriation, eviction, resettlement and compensation.

Click here to read the full report. (NV/ŞA)