Sensitive or controversial issues
Author | Karan, Ula? |
Pages | 111-112 |
111
11 SENSITIVE OR CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
11.1 Potential breaches of the directives at the national level
The directives have not (yet) been transposed to national law.
11.2 Other issues of concern
Although the directives have not (yet) been transposed into national law, the following
issues raise concern.
- The overarching issue of concern is the rapid eradication of democracy and the rule
of law in Turkey. The backsliding continued in 2019.
- The Government’s preoccupation with ‘counter-terrorism’ and the effective halt of
the EU accession process has led human rights reforms, including in the area of anti-
discrimination, to be entirely dropped from the agenda of public institutions.
- The equality body also fulfils the function of national pr evention mechanism on
torture and national human rights institution, which may dilute its strength and
effectiveness.
- The equality body’s independence has not been ensured in line with the Paris
Principles and the EU acquis.
- The equality body became operational after considerable delay. Rather than
combating discrimination, the Institution often uses discriminatory discourse. The
Institution carries out activities largely from a conservative perspective and in a way
that contradicts universal human rights values.
- The grounds of anti-discrimination in the Law on the Human Rights and Equality
Institution of Turkey, the Constitution and various laws still do not explicitly include
sexual orientation, although the Constitutional Court ruled that it is included in the
open-ended list of non-discrimination grounds. In a decision in 2019, the Institution
explicitly refused to examine a complaint regarding discrimination based on gender
identity.
- The scope of the duty to provide reasonable accommodation is more limited than the
accommodation is non-existent: consequently, there is no guidance for labour
inspectors, judges, employers and persons with disabilities.
- There is no specific prohibition regarding discrimination by association or hate
speech.
- The Law on the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey and the Law on
Disabilities do not elaborate on what can be considered a legitimate aim for the
purpose of objective justification of indirect discrimination.
- Sanctions are not explicitly mentioned in various laws containing anti-discrimination
provisions. Where they are mentioned, they are not dissuasive, proportional and
effective. Violations that are criminal offences are punishable with short prison
sentences, which are often convertible to small fines and inapplicable in practice.
- The Constitutional Court’s narrow interpretation of Article 10 of the Constitution,
Human Rights. limits the application of the equality clause beyond the protection
afforded by the European Court of Human Rights.
- Turkish law does not recognise the standing of NGOs to bring claims in support of
victims of discrimination, and standing to act on behalf of victims is granted only to
trade unions and consumer protection associations.
- The mandates of the national and local human rights bodies and the Ombudsman
Institution do not explicitly refer to protection from discrimination and offer limited
possibilities for intervention and influence. Provincial and district human rights bodies
have been ineffective and inactive for years. The accessibility and awareness of the
Ombudsman Institution is low.
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