21/10/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
Lawyer Kerem Dikmen from Kaos GL spoke at the UN Human Rights Committee. Dikmen stated that inspections were carried out “in retaliation” against associations that submitted reports to the Committee.
The 142nd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee started. The session, which started on October 14, will last until November 7. The session in Geneva will examine the reports of France, Greece, Iceland, Pakistan and Turkey on the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Non-governmental organizations submitted alternative reports on Turkey, which will be on the agenda of the October 23-24 meeting, to the Committee. A consortium consisting of Kaos GL, 17 May and Murat Çekiç associations were among the organizations that submitted reports.
LGBTI+ associations were subjected to an audit after submitting their reports
Kaos GL Human Rights Program Coordinator Attorney Kerem Dikmen also made a presentation to the Committee members on behalf of the consortium. Addressing the committee members today, Dikmen explained that LGBTI+ associations were subjected to an audit after they presented their reports.
Dikmen stated that the audit is about the content of their activities and that during the audits, associations are asked questions such as why they cooperate with other associations:
“After we submitted our report, LGBTI associations were audited regarding the content of their activities. We are going through an audit process in which the essence of the right to organize is questioned, such as why they carry out activities related to children's rights, why they cooperate with other associations. There are strong indications that the aim of these audits is to make them inoperable. This year, LGBTI+ organizations, submitted numerous reports to UN mechanisms. This has created a strong suspicion that audits are being used as a tool of reprisal.”
Event bans, Family Action Plan, state audits...
In his speech, Dikmen reminded that the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK) systematically rejects the discrimination applications of LGBTI+ persons with inadmissibility:
“The right to peaceful assembly of LGBTI+ persons is systematically banned. LGBTI+ themed production in the press, art, academia and politics is either banned or censored. Access to LGBTI+ news websites is restricted, LGBTI+ inclusive media are penalized.
“The Vision Document and Action Plan for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family announced by the Ministry of Family and Social Services in May. In this plan, LGBTI+ persons are targeted with the expressions “harmful trends and habits that threaten the family” and “desexualization project”.
It is important to ask the State delegation why, during the audits, questions are asked about their advocacy. And why the list of individual applications submitted by the associations to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights is requested by officers.”
“No more systematic bans!”
Dikmen concluded his speech with two main recommendations:
“State party should fulfill the decisions of the European Court to Human Rights and national courts regarding freedom of expression and assembly, and put an end to the systematic ban on pride parades.
“The law of the Human Rights and Equality Institution should be amended to ensure that submissions made by LGBTI+ individuals regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender characteristics are also examined in the first legislative year following the amendment.”
Kaos GL, May 17 and Murat Çekiç associations presented the situation of LGBTI+ persons in Turkey to the UN Human Rights Committee
In the joint report, it was emphasized that despite Turkey's claims, the legal and institutional framework in the country continues to systematically exclude and discriminate LGBTI+ persons.
The organizations emphasized the need for urgent reforms and compliance with international standards in LGBTI+ rights, and reminded that with the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, there has been a regression in LGBTI+ rights in the constitutional and legal framework.
The report includes topics such as the exclusion of LGBTI+ persons from the national human rights action plan, the categorical rejection of applications from LGBTI+ persons by the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK), violence targeting trans women, bans on LGBTI+ events and marches, arbitrary audits targeting LGBTI+ organizations.
Joint report by 12 rights organizations
Another alternative report prepared by the consortium consisting of May 17 Association, Alevi Thought Center, Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence, Diyarbakır Bar Association, Rights Initiative, Human Rights Association, Human Rights Joint Platform, Women's Solidarity Foundation, Kaos GL, MLSA, Romani Godi and SPoD, also included the situation of LGBTI+ rights in Turkey.
The report reminded that LGBTI+s are targeted during election periods and criticized the discriminatory discourse of government officials targeting LGBTI+s.
Tags: human rights
