A/HRC/45/13/Add.4 who have been seeking truth and justice for their loved ones for decades. As a remedial action, the Government of Turkey is urged to protect and uphold their guaranteed rights to expression, peaceful assembly and association, along with the rights to truth, justice, memory, and reparations. 23. The Working Group is deeply concerned that the Emergency Decree n.703 and Presidential Circular n.2018/1 have undermined the independence of the Human Rights and Equality Institution (HREI). According to information received, no ex officio investigations into alleged cases of enforced disappearances have been conducted by the HREI to date. The Working Group therefore urges the Government of Turkey to repeal these provisions and adopt the new ones in full compliance with Paris Principles. It further recommends the HREI to extend its support to the relatives of the disappeared, their lawyers, and civil society representatives advocating for their basic rights. 24. With a view to advancing the rights of victims and their families guaranteed by international law, the Working Group encourages the Government of Turkey to implement these recommendations in an effective and timely manner. To that end, the Working Group remains committed to providing technical assistance to the Government in meeting its human rights and humanitarian obligations within the framework of eradicating enforced disappearances and protecting the rights to truth, justice, memory, and reparations. A tangible stride in this domain is a litmus test for the rule of law and democracy in Turkey. 5