FAIR Factsheet for UPR 4th Cycle of Turkey

Universal Periodic Review
4th Cycle Pre – sessions 49
Türkiye

FAIR published a 2-page facksheet on its findings on the right to peaceful assembly in Turkey.

Right to Peaceful Assembly

Although Türkiye has legal provisions for the right to peaceful assembly, the practical implementation is not only restrictive but is also marred by the misuse of provisions and by problematic legislation that needs to be amended. Türkiye received a total of 36 recommendations regarding the right to peaceful assembly-17 during the 3rd cycle, 16 during the 2nd, and 3 during the 1st cycles. While Türkiye supported 23 of these recommendations, 13 were only noted. Recommendations including references to LGBTIQ+ communities or anti-terror legislation are often not supported. According to the 3rd Judicial Reform Strategy (2019-2023) Implementation Report, no meaningful steps have been taken regarding the right to peaceful assembly. The right to peaceful assembly is absent from Türkiye’s legal and judicial reform strategies. Amendments to the Provincial Administration Law have granted governors powers that significantly restrict this right. Particularly concerning are the bans on peaceful assemblies organized by LGBTIQ+ communities, students, young activists, and women’s groups. On 16 December 2020, the Law on the Prevention of Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction was passed, making restrictive changes to civil society laws.

Between 2019 and 2024: 179 provincial governors imposed bans on demonstrations andevents. 3,721 peaceful meetings and demonstrations were dispersed by the police usingforce. 813 events (press statements, theatre plays, exhibitions, concerts, etc.) were bannedor prevented. A total of 25,861 people, including 319 children, were detained.

Women’s Movement

8 March Women’s Marches face police intervention every year.
During the demonstrations in Ankara and Istanbul detentions took place.
Protests were banned in many cities after the withdrawal from the Istanbul Conventionand participants were detained.
Women’s rights defenders face pressure for gender equality work staying.

LGBTIQ+ Communities

İstanbul Pride marches have been banned since 2015 and participants are subjected toharsh police action.
Students were sued after the Pride March at Boğaziçi University and trials continue.
LGBTI+ events were banned by governorate decisions in many cities.

Recommendations

Amend local legislation in line with international standards: Türkiye should identify and revise its current legislation to specifically address freedom of expression, assembly, and protection from torture. This involves establishing a commission of human rights experts and legal professionals to oversee the process, aiming to implement at least five legislative changes annually. These changes should be completed by the end of 2025. The power of governorships to ban meetings and demonstrations throughout the province should be
removed from the law, and this power should only be restored in cases of emergency and on the condition that it is based on a competent court decision.

Publishing Detailed Statistics with Breakdowns and Addressing CSO Requests: Türkiye must establish a comprehensive data collection system to publish detailed statistics on key human rights issues, such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, arbitrary detention, police brutality, and torture. These reports should be released biannually, with the first report published by mid-2025 and the second by the end of the year. The system should also include mechanisms for addressing requests from civil society organizations.

Engagement with Civil Society Organisations: The government should actively engage with civil society organizations (CSOs) by holding regular meetings and consultations with at least four different CSOs per year. A diverse advisory board, including representatives from various groups, should be established by the first quarter of the year, with its inaugural meeting held by the mid-year. This engagement will ensure that diverse perspectives are represented and will enhance accountability in human rights policies.

Regular and Comprehensive Reporting: Türkiye should establish a dedicated unit responsible for monitoring and reporting on human rights practices. This unit should submit comprehensive reports to international human rights bodies at least twice a year, detailing the implementation of human rights protections. The first report should be submitted in the second quarter of 2025, followed by a second report by the end of the year.

For pdf version: FAIR – UPR Fact Sheet