The Turkish government approved Saturday the establishment of a supreme council for human rights and a human rights directorate, reported the Turkish Daily News.
Both institutions are affiliated to the prime ministry, said the paper.
“These two institutions will work to carry out studies in an effort to protect human rights and to make coordination between related state offices,” a statement by the prime ministry said.
In its annual report for 2000, Human Right Watch charged that the Turkish government made almost no progress on key human rights reforms, and failed to take advantage of the opportunity presented by a marked reduction in armed violence by illegal organizations.
“This was in spite of the strong incentive coming from the European Union, which offered long-awaited recognition to Turkey as a candidate for membership, subject to its meeting human rights conditions,” said the report.
While the government procrastinated, politicians and writers were prosecuted and imprisoned for expressing their nonviolent opinions, and detainees in police custody remained at risk of ill-treatment, torture, or death in custody, the report added – Albawaba.com
