A/HRC/29/15
139. Ukraine commended efforts to implement UPR recommendations and the judicial
reform package adopted by Parliament.
140. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed steps to
address Kurdish issues, and was concerned by restrictions on freedom of assembly and
expression.
141. Algeria praised the revision of the Constitution and the establishment of a number of
institutions to strengthen human rights.
142. The head of the delegation underlined that equality between women and men before
the law was one of the basic principles of the Turkish Constitution. A new definition had
been introduced in the Constitution through an amendment in 2010, which allowed for
positive discrimination for women. Turkey had been the first to sign and ratify the Council
of Europe Istanbul Convention; Law No. 6284 on the Protection of Family and Prevention
of Violence against Women had been put into force with provisions compatible with the
Convention. The National Action Plan on Combating Domestic Violence against Women
had been updated for the period 2012–2015. Turkey considered honour killings abhorrent
violations of human rights which could not be justified on social, cultural or religious
grounds. The Turkish Penal Code penalized honour killings with aggravated life
imprisonment.
143. The Law on Persons with Disabilities had been revised in accordance with the
approach of and the obligations envisaged in CRPD. Improvements had been made in
schools for children with disabilities. Turkey had signed ILO conventions No. 167 and
No. 176 in 2014. Both conventions were at the final stage of ratification.
144. The Law on Foreigners and International Protection had entered into force on 11
April 2014, and the principle of non-refoulement had gained legal basis. The procedure
relating to humanitarian residence permit and subsidiary protection mechanisms had been
defined, and “temporary protection” to be provided in cases of massive influx had been
codified for the first time. Work on drafting the law on the prevention of human trafficking
and protection of victims was under way.
145. The delegation highlighted that the National Strategy Document and Action Plan on
the Rights of the Child 2013–2017 was focused on keeping girls in the education system,
with an aim to prevent early marriages. The illiteracy rate of women and girls in Turkey
had been decreasing for the past decade. Turkey had ratified the ILO Worst Forms of Child
Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). The National Strategy Document and Action Plan
included key measures on the prevention of child labour.
146. Turkey was a safe harbour for more than 1.6 million Syrians. With others, the figure
reached 2 million. In conformity with its international obligations, Turkey had pursued an
open-door policy for all Syrians and Iraqis who had to flee the conflicts in their countries
during the past four years. The amount disbursed for its humanitarian response had reached
US$ 5 billion, whereas total bilateral and multilateral support had remained at
US$ 300 million. In response to certain allegations, the delegation stated that accusing
Turkey of mistreating Syrians or not doing its share in addressing their needs was equal to
failing to acknowledge the huge burden on and the great sacrifices made by Turkey.
147. The head of delegation thanked everyone who attended the UPR review of Turkey;
the questions asked and recommendations made during the session had been noted and
would be considered with diligence.
12
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