Turkey: Briefing paper on the situation of human rights defenders

(Geneva) - Turkey is scheduled to be reviewed at the 21st session of the Universal Periodic Review in January 2015.

At its first UPR of May 2010, Turkey accepted only 10 out of 20 recommendations concerning freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. However, it accepted both recommendations concerning human rights defenders promising to ‘investigate all complaints of harassment and persecution against human rights defenders and NGOs, and sanction those responsible’ and ‘consider inviting the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders to visit the country’. Nevertheless, four years later, human rights defenders and journalists still complain of continued judicial harassment and growing repressions on protesters and civil society as well as failure in holding perpetrators accountable.

Key recommendations that should be made to Turkey at the UPR in early 2015 include the development and enactment of specific laws and policies to recognise and protect the work of human rights defenders and which give full force and effect to the international Declaration on Human Rights Defenders at the national level.

This Briefing Paper on the Situation of Human Rights Defendes in Turkey is intended to assist States and other stakeholders to formulate questions and recommendations regarding the protection of human rights defenders during the UPR.

For further information about the Briefing Paper or for any assistance or advice in the formulation of recommendations, please contact ISHR's Michael Ineichen, on m.ineichen@ishr.