The UN has sent to Turkey a special reporter, Gabriela Knaul, to see if recent judicial reforms are being implemented. She points several constraints that currently take place in Turkey in terms of the judiciary and human rights. The UN expert is concerned at restrictions to the right to defense and on freedom of expression that are not in line with international standards. According to the official, there are obstacles that remain to achieve a truly independent judiciary. Knaul will make a report on her findings and reveal it in 2012.
This Week Turkey is being analyzed by the UN and the EU. Each organization will conduct by their own an analysis of Turkey’s rights. As we read in the expert’s statements contained in this article, the situation regarding the judiciary and freedom of expression is still poor. The imprisonment of journalists last spring is a clear example of this. So we should not expect a great improvement in the valuation made by the rapporteur. In contrast, Turkey's rights record seems to be quite hopeless. The analysis will reflect the situation in Turkey and will be a clear reason of why Turkey is far from entering the EU. The recommendations Knaul will make on their analysis to Turkey should be used as a mirror to look in. Therefore, the country should take the necessary decisions to improve its democratic standards. In my opinion one of the most important changes that have to be done is a change in government, changing the president, Abdullah Gül, which just affirms that Turkey is in its most historical democratic period. Right now, Turkey is failing in terms of global democratic values and therefore it is not moving toward Democracy; as I have said, the country needs to take more important steps to solve this problem.
Source: Hurriyet daily news
I think that Turkey has to do some more efforts to achieve the democratic standars that are necessary to get into the European Union. I do agree with Manu´s opinion about that the first change has to be produced in the government. The president can't just say that they are in its most democratic period, and of course it is true because Turkey is making efforts to move towards democracy, however, they need to make more moves to achieve those standards. In my opinion, those efforts that Turkey has made have to be recognized as well and not just point what it has not achieved yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Irene, I would like to point that change in government is paramount, but at the same time, this is the most in theory “honest” leader who has Turkey nowadays; but he only makes minor reforms which do not improve the level of democracy in the country. It is true that there is a party considered itself democratic (Demokratik Toplum Partisi), but like the rest, it only looks after their interests and not those of the country. As far as it may concern, Turkey is in it most democratic period.
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