Regulations For Human Rights Boards To Be Re-arranged

Anadolu Agency: 11/13/2003

ANKARA - Prime Ministry Human Rights Chairman Vahit Bicak has said that regulations for human rights boards would be re-arranged to include more representatives of non-governmental organizations.

Bicak held a press conference at the Prime Ministry Directorate of Human Rights on Thursday.

Recalling that the Supreme Board of Human Rights held its 91st meeting under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Bicak said, ''during the meeting, it was decided to make a series of changes in regulations for human rights boards. Meanwhile, Human Rights Consultative Board will convene on December 8, 2003 to assess the Progress Report of the European Union (EU) Commission for Turkey.''

''We have decided that non-governmental organizations should be represented at the human rights boards with more members. Governors and head officials will continue to act as chairmen of provincial and local human rights boards. However, some changes will be made about members of these boards. Provincial commanders, police chiefs, provincial health directors, provincial national education directors and provincial social services directors will not be included in the boards any longer in order to make these boards civilian,'' he noted.

Bicak said, ''with these changes in the regulations, the structure of human rights boards have been civilized. Participation of civil society in the human rights boards have been increased. Our people deserve higher standards of human rights. Also, activities of the boards have been re-arranged in detail. The new regulations will come into force after being published in the Official Gazette.''

Pointing out that the Progress Report of the EU Commission for Turkey was also brought onto agenda of the meeting, Bicak said, ''Turkey's Secretary General for the EU Murat Sungar attended the meeting. The part of the report about human rights was taken up at the meeting in detail.''

Bicak said that delegations inquiring into human rights violations would be made more active in the possible shortest period.

He added that they were planning to meet with representatives of 240 non-governmental organizations in eight provinces till May of 2004.

(UK) 13.11.2003

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