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Recent Reforms
- Military judges were removed from State Security Courts
(June 1999)
- The prosecution of civil servants was facilitated (December
1999)
- Lawsuits and penalties related to offences committed
through print and broadcast media were waived (September
1999)
- The option of repentance providing partial amnesty for
members of terrorist organizations not having participated
in terrorist acts was introduced (August 1999)
- The Penal Code was modified (August 1999). Most important
changes relate to the definition of torture, higher penalties
for perpetrators/abettors of torture and those trying
to cover up torture incidents.
- The Law on Criminal Procedure was modified, bringing
detention periods in line with European standards.
- State of Emergency in Southeastern provinces is being
gradually lifted.
- An Action Plan in line with the UN Human Rights Education
Decade was adopted (June 1999)
- Additional emphasis has been given to human rights issues
in the civil servants’ training programs.
- Becoming party to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and to the UN Covenant on Social, Economic and
Cultural Rights (August 2000)
- Establishment of “Human Rights Councils” at
the Province and County levels, bringing together representatives
of the government and NGO’s.
- The Anti-terror law was amended so that inmates incarcerated
under the said law can benefit from common places in prisons
and do so for longer periods (May 2001)
- Enactment of the Law on Justices to Oversee the carrying
out of sentences. (May 2001).
- Amending the Regulation on the Administration of Prisons
to liberalize the regime governing inmates’ contacts
with persons outside (May 2001).
- Enactment of the Law on Councils to Supervise Incarceration
Facilities (June 2001).
- Issuance of a Prime Ministerial Circular relating to
government agencies’ relations with NGO’s (June
2001).
Envisaged Reforms
- Abolishing the death penalty.
- Lowering penalties for a number of offences.
- Re-arranging the legal provisions relating to the freedom
of expression.
- Compensation of the losses incurred by civilians as
a result of terrorism and the fight against it.
- Introducing the mechanism of “Ombudsman”.
- Reinforcing local government.
- Extend the new Law on Criminal Procedure to govern State
Security Courts.
- Establishing a human rights databank to monitor and
review the developments.
- Special projects to better train law enforcement officials
with additional emphasis on human rights.
- Abolishing State of Emergency.
- Reforms relating to the conditions of Prison officials
and inmates.
Main Issues
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