Human Rights Association: A Struggle for Rights for 33 Years

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The Human Rights Association (İHD) was founded with the signature of 98 people on July 17, 1986. The objective of the association's establishment was indicated as "working on human rights and freedoms."

Among its founders were relatives of prisoners, intellectuals, writers, journalists, publishers, academics, lawyers, physicians, architects, engineers and teachers. Today marks its 33rd anniversary.

On this occasion, the İHD has released a statement and commemorated the ones who lost their lives in the struggle for human rights. Reminding that it is obligatory to resolve the the Kurdish Question by democratic and peaceful means, the association has made the following remarks in brief:

'Turkey needs to confront its past for democratization'

"Turkey needs to realize a real resolution of conflicts and confront with its past in order to democratize. Turkey is in need of a new peace process that will acknowledge and resolve the Kurdish question.

"Moreover, there is also a need for a new political will that will acknowledge the demands for human rights raised by all otherizes circles in society, primarily the Alevi community's demands for equal citizenship rights.

"Turkey needs a real resolution for its conflicts, along with a new and democratic Constitution. (...) The obvious characteristic of the changes that are called the Presidential System today is nothing other than an anti-democratic one-person rule.

'Our struggle against discrimination will continue'

"Freedom of expression is the foundation of democracy. Freedom of expression needs to be established in order to pave the way for democracy. Without establishing freedom of expressing thoughts and freedom of press, it does not seem possible to open the way for democracy.

"We would like to emphasize that it is of utmost importance to eliminate the violations caused by discrimination, especially the ones committed in gender equality, as well as the policies and practices leading to all types of discrimination. Our struggle against all types of discrimination will continue without any interruptions.

'Policy of impunity needs to be ended'

"Our reports on rights violations have documented that the practices violating the prohibition of torture and ill treatment have considerably increased, especially after the declaration of State of Emergency.

"Similarly, the incidents of enforced disappearances are arising again. The policy of impunity is standing in the way of investigating these violations. The policy of impunity needs to be ended and effective, extensive and independent administrative and legal investigations need to be conducted.

"The policy of pressuring human rights defenders through the judiciary needs to be ended. The 33-year struggle of human rights defenders under the roof of the İHD will increasingly continue with a demand for freedom, equality, justice and peace and the struggle for the establishment of a democratic regime in Turkey will continue." (EMK/SD)