Human Rights Committees to be Run by Civilians

Starting at the top, criminal jurist Assoc. Prof. Vahit Bicak, who formerly served in the European Court of Human Rights will be appointed head of the Human Rights Presidency.

(Today's Zaman, 06.11.2003) The human rights committee, formed to investigate human rights violations and receive complaints is undergo personnel changes. The commitee, comprised of members from the Prime Ministry Human Rights Presidency, governors, deputy governors, district governors, security directors and gendarmerie representatives serving in 81 cities and 849 provinces in Turkey are to be replaced mostly by representatives from non-governmental organizations and professional institutions. According to a new by-law, the comittee will be led by civilians. The plan is part of the government's drive to focus on human rights, before December 2004, when Turkey hopes to receive a date for European Union full membership deliberations. Starting at the top, criminal jurist Assoc. Prof. Vahit Bicak, who formerly served in the European Court of Human Rights will be appointed head of the Human Rights Presidency. The ministry has begun drafting new city and county Human Rights committee and structural by-laws after garnering the opinions and suggestions of 96 experts. 06.11.2003 Emine Dolmaci Ankara

Haberin Tarihi : 27.04.2008