A/HRC/15/60 553. In a joint statement, ILGA-Europe and COC Nederland urged Turkey to reconsider its position on recommendation 102.10 regarding the non-discrimination of women and persons of minority ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity. They recommended that Turkey explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for nondiscrimination in the draft law on non-discrimination and the development of an equality board. It drew attention to the ongoing hate crimes that targeted transgender people, adding that they remained unpunished or uninvestigated. 554. Conscience and Peace Tax International raised concerns about freedom of opinion and expression in the light of Turkey’s rejection of recommendations for specific changes to articles 301 and 318 of the penal code and the anti-terror law. It referred to activists sentenced to imprisonment, under article 318, for demonstrating in support of conscientious objectors. It urged Turkey to adopt legislation that provided for conscientious objectors to opt for alternative civilian service. 555. The Syriac Universal Alliance invited Turkey to open constructive dialogue on critical issues that need to be addressed by Turkey and the international community. While welcoming Turkey’s cooperation and replies regarding minority rights, it stressed that much work still needed to be done; for instance, group rights were often circumvented or misrepresented. Turkey continued to deny the official existence of the Arameans, unlike other minorities. The Alliance regretted that the concept of minorities had not been updated and aligned with international standards during the recent constitutional reform. 556. The European Centre for Law and Justice pointed to concerns raised about the discrimination and public hostility suffered by religious minorities. It was the climate of hostility maintained by the media that had led to an upsurge in murder of priests. The promotion of tolerance and dialogue among civilizations should not only be a product for export, but also promoted in Turkish society. 557. Human Rights Watch welcomed the constitutional reform. It urged the Government to proceed with its long-promised full revision of the Constitution, to remove restrictions on freedom of expression and the rights of minority groups, and other limits to fundamental rights. It urged Turkey to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to lift the geographical limitation to the 1951 Refugee Convention. It was concerned that the law to establish a national human rights institution was not in line with the Paris Principles, and called on Turkey to reopen investigation into the negligence and possible collusion of State officials in the killing of journalist and editor Harat Dink. It urged Turkey to implement the law on the protection of the family. 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 558. The representative of Turkey thanked Council member and observer States and all stakeholders. He assured that all comments had been duly noted and that Turkey had the political will to overcome all difficulties. 559. With regard to criticism on religious freedom, Turkey felt that some of the information provided by non-governmental organizations was not up to date. 560. On torture and ill-treatment, the Government was adamant in its zero-tolerance policy, without exception. The Government did not condone such violations and was doing its best to eradicate totally these practices, despite possible remaining marginal cases. The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture was currently before Parliament, in the final stage of adoption, and there was no doubt that it would be ratified. National preventive mechanisms were being set up, though it was not possible to say when they would be operative. 166 GE.11-17043