08/04/2016 | Writer: Kaos GL
Despite all the criticism by civil society, Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee Law Draft that does not include discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity was accepted in the general assembly of parliament to become law.
Despite all the criticism by civil society, Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee Law Draft that does not include discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity was accepted in the general assembly of parliament to become law.
The law draft to found Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee, which is claimed to fight against discrimination, was accepted in the general assembly of parliament. Draft has become law. Committee is expected to be founded soon.
The fields of Committee include to protect and improve human rights based on human dignity, to secure the right of individuals to be treated equally, to fight effectively against torture and cruel treatment.
According to the law, discrimination due to gender, race, color, language, sect, philosophical and political view, ethnicity, wealth, birth, marital status, state of health, disability and age is forbidden. The prohibition excludes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Human Rights Committee discussions started with discrimination
The law draft to found Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee was examined in Parliament Human Rights Commission in February. The requests of CHP and HDP to include ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ was not accepted as a result of homophobic attitude of AKP. HDP withdrew from the committee work.
The law draft that excluded discrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity could have been sent to the sub-commission. Instead, due to the insistence by AKP, it was examined by commission and sent to assembly to vote directly. Therefore a more detailed examination of draft in sub-commission was hindered. Enough time was not given for the opposition and civil society to offer their motions.
A deliberation happened during the meetings of the law draft prepared by the government that forbids discrimination due to gender, race, color, language, sect, philosophical and political view, ethnicity, wealth, birth, marital status, state of health, disability and age, yet ignores LGBTIs and their requests.
LGBTI Organizations and Civil Society protested
50 LGBTI organizations, saying “Do not discriminate against gays, bisexuals, transgenders and intersexes”, issued a press release.
Non-Governmental Organizations starts an institutional and individual petition against Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee Law Draft that discriminate against LGBTIs and excludes Human Rights Organisms from the process.
The organizations, addressing to parliament, said that “ We, as non-governmental organizations working to fight against discrimination and for equality, underline the fact that the structure offered and the framework projected with Turkey Human Rights and Equality Committee Law Draft are impossible to perform the goal and the function stated in its reasoning.”
Translated by Süleyman Bölükbaş
Tags: life
