Deputy PM: Turkey continues sweeping reform process on human rights
by Daily Sabah
ANKARAMar 01, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Mar 01, 2016 12:00 am
Despite facing acute humanitarian challenges in a region plagued by difficulties, Turkey is continuing the comprehensive reform process on human rights it launched over a decade ago, Deputy Prime Minister Lütfi Elvan said in a speech during a ceremony held to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. Stating that Turkey is fully determined to further efforts toward democratization, Deputy Prime Minister Elvan said that the government has initiated intensive legislative work in six prioritized sectors. ''The enhancement of democracy and reform of the justice system are at the top of our reform agenda. Some important bills have already been referred to Parliament, such as the Law on Data Protection and the Law on Turkish Human Rights and the Equality Institution. This institution will have a public legal personality, as well as administrative and financial autonomy.''
Emphasizing that the conflict in Syria continues to pose a threat to the entire region's peace and stability, Elvan said that Turkey is doing its utmost to deal with the humanitarian catastrophe. "According to the UNHCR, Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees in the world. The total number of Syrians living in Turkey has already exceeded 2.7 million. The number of Syrian babies born in Turkey has reached almost 152,000. So far, Turkey has spent $10 billion to meet the needs of the Syrian refugees; whereas, the total contributions from the international community thus far have been limited to only $455 million. We expect the international community to act on the principles of burden sharing and solidarity."Elvan said the whole world faces the scourge of terrorism, while brutal terrorist organizations such as DAESH, al-Qaida, the PKK and Boko Haram continue to threaten social order and the well-being of societies. Elvan said that Turkey has always supported the U.N.'s counterterrorism efforts. "While countering terrorism, the balance between fundamental freedoms and security needs are maintained."
Elvan stressed that violent extremism in all its forms is a growing source of concern on a global scale; therefore, the dimensions of human rights for the prevention and countering of violent extremism should remain on the U.N.'s agenda. "Racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia continue to challenge our efforts to ensure the universal enjoyment of human rights. Along with the rising trends of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, these constitute serious threats to global peace and social harmony. We condemn all kinds of incitement toward hatred as well as religious discrimination against Muslims, Jews and people of other faiths."
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