Britain assists in rights handbook preparation

Board Chairman Vahit Bıçak said at the meeting that the rate of petitions filed by Turkish citizens with the European Court of Human Rights had dropped significantly. He mentioned that the Copenhagen criteria and other European Union harmonization laws that have been implemented have contributed to this decrease and added, "This development was explained and complimented in EU reports."


(ANKARA - Turkish Daily News, Monday, November 29, 2004) The Prime Ministry Board of Human Rights will collaborate with the British Council in the publication of human rights handbooks for use by local committees The town of Abant, located in Bolu Province, is hosting a preparatory meeting on "Composing a Handbook for Human Rights Committees," sponsored by the British Foreign Office. The analyses to emerge from the conference concerning the state of human rights violations in Turkey will be used in the preparation of handbooks for local human rights committees. The Prime Ministry Board of Human Rights will collaborate with the British Council in the preparation of the handbooks. Board Chairman Vahit Bıçak said at the meeting that the rate of petitions filed by Turkish citizens with the European Court of Human Rights had dropped significantly. He mentioned that the Copenhagen criteria and other European Union harmonization laws that have been implemented have contributed to this decrease and added, "This development was explained and complimented in EU reports." According to statistics released by the board, 461 people filed charges against the state alleging human rights violations in the first 11 months of this year. People can submit their complaints to local human rights committees. Applications made to these local committees and those lodged directly with the board are assessed by officials and announced monthly to the public. A total of 250 human rights committee members and the members of 240 nongovernmental organization have been trained in eight separate conferences held by the Prime Ministry Board of Human Rights. The board intends to train to 15,000 human rights volunteers to work with committees throughout Turkey. British Council Assistant to the Director Gillian Cowell, who also attended the meeting, stated that Britain supported Turkey's membership in the EU, adding that Europeans did not know much about Turkey. Cowell said their objective was to increase dialogue between the British and Turkish peoples. Cowell also pointed out in response to a question that the religious beliefs of the Turks and Turkey's culture would not constitute obstacles to Turkey's membership in the EU but noted that reforms were important.

Haberin Tarihi : 27.04.2008