25/10/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
During the session on the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, delegation of Türkiye stated that 'The family was considered to be the most sacred unit in Turkish society'
The Human Rights Committee completed the discussion of its second periodic report on Türkiye's implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 24 October.
During the session chaired by Tania María Abdo Rocholl, the delegation of Türkiye was asked questions on discrimination against LGBTI+’s
Committee experts said that the Convention on Civil and Political Rights does not provide full protection against discrimination in Türkiye. The Committee asked whether Türkiye would review its legal framework to ensure effective protection against discrimination against LGBTI+’s. In addition, the Committee referred to the delegation of Türkiye the question of whether the law establishing the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (TİHEK) would include a regulation on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In response to the Committee experts' question, delegation of Turkey claimed that LGBTI+’s have access to education and health services without any discrimination. The delegation gave the following answer to the question:
“The family was considered to be the most sacred unit in Turkish society. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were seen as a threat to the Turkish family structure. They were therefore not deemed acceptable by a large portion of society, as they believed this lifestyle threatened the main building blocks of life.”
In response to the delegation's response, one of the Committee's experts told delegation of Türkiye the following:
“How did comments that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons posed a threat to the Islamic family structure corroborate with comments made previously that there was no discrimination against anyone in health and education?”
Tags: human rights
