Human Rights Board going strong

Human Rights Board President Vahit Bıçak said on Thursday his decision to resign as of Sept. 17 was due to personal reasons because he wanted to return to academia.

(ANKARA - Turkish Daily News, Friday, September 9, 2005) Prime Ministry spokesman on Thursday Akif Beki denied reports claiming that the Prime Ministry Human Rights Board would be abolished, noting that they were trying to transform it into an autonomous body closely linked to the United Nations. In a statement Beki refuted reports in some newspapers that said the board would be abolished, adding that their aim was to make the board a more effective institution that cooperated with nongovernmental organizations. Human Rights Board President Vahit Bıçak said on Thursday his decision to resign as of Sept. 17 was due to personal reasons because he wanted to return to academia. He said human rights boards established in all municipalities and provinces should be made more financially independent but added that despite all the deficiencies they had begun to be seen as a force for the protection of human rights. He said he would like to thank the government and especially Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül for their efforts in improving human rights.

Haberin Tarihi : 27.04.2008