On the call for inputs from the Special Rapporteur for his report to be presented at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council, ASSEDEL submitted the below responses in the context of Turkey. The submission highlights the difficulties of individuals, lawyers, political parties, and NGOs to seek their rights, the feeling of being stuck, and how violations are justified by the government.
You can read the full submission from here.
On 11 February 2021 Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders have sent a letter to Turkey addressing their serious concerns on with the potential consequences of the Law No. 7262 on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction which was adopted on 27 December 2020 and entered into force on 31 December 2020. The Law potentially can restrict freedom of association, it would also entail granting the Ministry of Interior and judges wider powers to prosecute human rights defenders for terror charges and block their associations’ activities for long periods of time. This concern has already been discussed within the above-mentioned submission of our association submitted to the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association on 28 January 2021.
To read the full communication please click here.
Ms Dunja Mijatovic, Commissioner for Human Rights, also intervened on the above-mentioned Law No. 7262. In a letter addressed to the Turkish Government on 25 February 2021, she pointed out that the government appears engaged in exactly the opposite direction by broadening the catalogue of tools which it may use to further target civil society organisations and human rights defenders, and their legitimate and lawful activities.
To read the full letter please click here.