The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) debates on human rights in Turkey in the view of the Commission´s Progress Report on 9.11.2010, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

Subcommittee on Human Rights

EU - Türkiye (T)

Enlargement to Türkiye (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

hearing

OOMEN-RUIJTEN, Ria (EPP, NL)

FLAUTRE, Hélène (Greens/EFA, FR)

Human Rights in Turkey: extracts from the hearing

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrew GARDNER, Turkey research, Amnesty International, The optional protocol to the Convention against the torture was signed in 2005 but has not been ratified until this day.

SOUNDBITE (English), Selim KUNERALP, Permanent Delegate of Turkey to the European Union, The political reforms that have been undertaken to protect human rights in all areas, thank to democracy and the principal of law, are one of the most important components of the accession process a strategic priority for Turkey. However these reforms are also needed to fulfil the expectations of the Turkish nation for more democracy, better respect for fundamental rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Selim KUNERALP, Permanent Delegate of Turkey to the European Union, The new penal code is in line with European standards and principles, particularly in relation to freedom expression issues and since enactment of that law, the number of prosecutions linked to such an issues has decreased dramatically.

SOUNDBITE (French), H&#233;l&#232;ne FLAUTRE (Greens/EFA, FR), The European interventions are sometimes contradictory. It seems a paradox to me that we insist in different standards and fundamental freedom like freedom of association, freedom of movement, equality of man and woman, independence of justice and at the same time the chapters which may allow concrete advancements on the same subject justice, fundamental rights are blocked only by political reasons. We as a parliamentary assembly have to take the measure of our responsibilities in this domain.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (EPP, NL), rapporteur, Human rights are fundamental part of the Copenhagen criteria. And the Copenhagen criteria are for me more important as opening or closing chapters. Let's say first, and what a development of the human rights in Turkey is going on, there are in the last years, and it was already said by Mrs: Alexandra Alejandra Cas-Granje and also by Ambassador; that there were important steps taken, new legislation that was accepted. But the reality does not always follow what is accepted by legislative proposals.