Kemal Özmen

Kemal Özmen

[email protected]

Military operations hamper response to wildfires in Dersim

Military operations hamper response to wildfires in Dersim

The mayor of Hozat district has told bianet that they are not allowed to enter the fire zone due to ongoing military operations.

Government Without Social Services Strategy

Yet another incident of abuse and ill-treatment at state child care institutions hit the news but government remains apathetical. MP Erbatur and expert Akco criticize the lack of concrete reforms on the social services system.

8 February 2007

Violence Towards Children Escalate in 2006

Lawyer Akco says that last year saw a retraction on childrens rights issues, despite positive last minute changes in legislation. Domestic abuse and violent incidents at schools escalated while armed conflict and its repercussions claimed many lives.

Minister Drops Out on Violence at Schools

Minister of Education proposes to move children inclined to violence out of schools and to distant education as a last resort. Experts criticize the proposal, saying the problem is pedagogic and social rather than a question of security.

25 December 2006

High Unemployment Keeps Minimum Wage Low

The Comission on Minimum Wage gathered to decide the amount for 2007. Current number is way below poverty line. Economist Sonmez says a strong political opposion is needed to challenge the government policies while workers unions are at disaccord.

1 December 2006

NGOs Call For Action On Children Rights

16 NGOs say millions of children in the world and in Turkey are neglected due to poverty, exploited and forced to live on the streets. They call on the government and all adults to fulfill their responsibility to children.

21 November 2006

Horizontal Communication Essential

Tagesszeitung newspapers Mika There shouldnt be a too great distancing from mainstream media; Il Manifestos Casagrande Workers are owners of the newspaper; Evrensels Kara, We are reporting in line with the needs of labor.

5 November 2006

We Want A Media On the Childs Side

Childrens Rights group says Respecting children rights but violating human rights is unthinkable. Media organizations should first declare principles to their readership and opportunities should be provided for children to participate in the media

4 November 2006

Child Death Probe Team Investigated

Public prosecutor launches investigation into rights advocates investigating the suspected killing of a girl by security. Among the suspects is Bar Association chair Ozevin who says the enquiry is repressive and an attempt to block rights activists.

21 October 2006

Kids Face Police Questioning at Schools

Egitim-Sen reports incidents of primary school children in Adana being questioned by the police and gendarme for outstanding credit card debts of parents. Boga: We must immediately rid ourselves of this shame of turning schools into police stations

18 October 2006

Lawyer Reaches 175. Day in Hunger Strike

Lawyer Asci lived through the 175th consecutive day of his one-man hunger strike on Tuesday in protest of isolation treatment in maximum-security F-type prisons. Justice Ministry has so far failed to take any steps on issue.

27 September 2006

Anti-War Week Picks Up

The Global Anti-War Week is to be marked with various activities following this weekends launch where Middle East situation and Bushs war policies were highlights. Activities to continue until Sept.30 as decided at the European and World Social Forum.

26 September 2006

Left Military Ammunition Kills Another Child

Yet another child, this time, Kerem was killed when a piece of metal he was playing with exploded. Two other children were injured in the incident. There is still not sufficient work to educate children against military mines and abandoned ammunition.

26 September 2006

No Bomb Is Innocent

Childrens rights group Gundem Cocuk says on explosion killing 6 children in Diyarbakir: Those conducting violence, nourishing it, those creating the conditions for it are all equally guilty. The crime is a crime even if the bomb had not killed children

15 September 2006

Investigation Demanded Into Kurdish Girl Deat

The right to life of 11-year-old Kurdish girl in Batman might have been neglected while two suspects killed in the same incident could have been apprehended alive, concludes a fact-finding mission of human rights NGOs.

15 September 2006

Ekinci Makes a Call to PKK to Leave the Arms

One of the leading Kurdish politician Ekinci says PKK must lay down arms with no conditions attached to it. Ekinci argues that for democracy forces to advance in Turkey and be effective, PKK has to end armed activities point blank.

13 September 2006

DTP Calls On PKK to Declare Cease-Fire

Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) chairman Ahmet Turk issues cease-fire appeal and says he is hopeful PKK will accept: If the PKK declares a cease-fire it is a must to create the conditions to make it durable.

12 September 2006

No Evidence of Clash in Kurdish Girl Slaying

Human Rights activists say it found no sign of a clash where 9-year-old Kurdish girl Mizgin was killed by gunfir. Her brother Hadi charges they were fired on by security forces without warning and corpses were shot again afterwards.

11 September 2006

Teachers Union Urges for Qulaity Education

Turkeys school-teachers uniaon Egitim-Sen to launch nation-wide campaign petitioning for equal, free and quality education for all levels and sections of education. Engineers Chamber, TMMOB and largest union confedartion Turk-Is to support campaign.

8 September 2006

Investigate into Killing of Kurdish Girl

9-year-old Mizgin Ozbek and two others were sprayed with bullets in a car in southeast Batman while officials maintain child was caught in cross-fire. Human rights NGOs and local Bar Association set up fact-finding delegation.

7 September 2006

Turkey To Send Troops to Lebanon

Brushing off public reaction and warnings by opposition deputies, ruling AKP majority passes government motion to send Turkish soldiers to Lebanon. Simultaneous to the vote, over 10 thousand people poured out to the streets of capital Ankara in protest.

6 September 2006

Should We Go to Lebanon or Not ?

Four students were beaten by side watchers as they tried to protest sending troops to Lebanon. Police Chief Cerrah approved of the lynching. As celebrations went on for the Victory Day, we talked to youngsters on the issue: Theyre simply confused.

Thousands Protested Against Troops to Lebanon

Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered in Kadikoy demanding Israel to withdraw immediately from Lebanese and Palestine soil as well as closure of military bases and abolition of bilateral treaties with Israel from the government.

TBB Ends Free Counsel Strike

Union of Bar Associations ends its protest of obligatory counsel services after Prime Minister issues orders for a new law and payment plan. Services to offer government-sponsored counsel to victims and defendants resume as the Union welcome solution.

Keep Children Out Of TMK!

Initiative to Structure Childrens Justice System writes to President and Main Opposition Leader asking them to take new Anti-Terror Law to Constitutional Court and have it expunged: Children cant be protected from terror by limiting rights.

Children Get Police & Courts, Not Schools

Diyarbakir Bar Association reveals that out of 10 thousand 193 suspects brought before courts last year, 2,197 were children. Criticizing the lawyers say effective social policies to protect children need to be enforced.

Analay: Overhaul Needed In Child Protection

34 children were missing from Childrens Homes in Diyarbakir. Lawyer Analay of Bar Association says Unless policies are developed for children in need of protection, incidents like this will continue. Reports say 15 more children now missing in Sakarya

Usak Hosts Children Rights Reporting Seminar

BİA² and UNICEF Turkey hold two-day Children Rights News Reporting training meeting in Usak on invitation of governor Kayhan Kavas. 26 reporters attend occasion where target is set to create Turkeys first child-friendly media network.

34 Torture Investigations in Diyarbakir

Lawyer Analay says Diyarbakir incidents show officials are not sincere in zero-tolerance policy for torture. Calls for 34 investigations launched into police torture allegations to be followed up and not be inconclusive like others.

All Diyarbakir Child Prisoners Released

The number of children released in Diyarbakir since May 8 reached 40 this week with 15 more minors set free and no child prisoners left for alleged involvement in Diyarbakir incidents. Lawyer Analay says Solution is acquitting the children.

Diyarbakirs International Children Festival

Diyarbakirs 6th festival dedicated to Enis Ata and Abdullah Duran who lost their lives when police opened fire during March incidents. Let my dreams remain childish theme to mark festival that will end on May 18.

Diyarbakir: 20 Children Released, 19 in Jail

With the release of four more children from prison in Diyarbakir. the number of minors still under arrest for alleged involvement in the March protests is 19. Cases against 70 minors are to be heard by May 18. Lawyer Analay wants all children released.

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