Turkey’s human rights record to be reviewed by UN

 

Tomorrow will be Turkey’s turn in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a state-driven process which allows UN member states to discuss their human rights performance and receive feedback on how they can improve.

 

 

During the first review of Turkey in 2010, states raised concerns about Turkey’s record of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

Turkey accepted recommendations by Norway, Canada and the Netherlands and committed to take steps to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Government also noted the Czech Republic’s recommendation on human rights education and training for state personnel with a focus that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

Since its first review, Turkey has failed to implement the accepted recommendations of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 

 

Although the Istanbul Convention Turkey ratified in November 2011 includes the terms sexual orientation and gender identity, Turkey is yet to fulfill its international obligation to bring its domestic laws in line with this convention to ensure the protection of LGBT people.

 

 

Kaos GL Association, LGBTI News Turkey and IGLHRC submitted a joint UPR report to the U.N. Human Rights Council last summer documenting rights violations against LGBT people between 2010 and 2014. The report highlights the murder of at least 41 people due to their real or assumed sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

Ezgi Kocak from Kaos GL Association will be in Geneva for the UPR session of Turkey. Kocak will also speak at a conference on persecution of journalists and lawyers in Turkey.