19/10/2012 | Writer: Ali Erol
European Commission announced Turkey’s Progress Report and claimed that the discrimination against LGBTs due to their identity and orientation continues.
European Commission announced (October 10) Turkey’s Progress Report and claimed that the discrimination against LGBTs due to their identity and orientation continues.
The Progress Report highlights the removal of the phrase “sexual identity” from the Bill of Anti-discrimination and Equality Commission in its section about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenders. The Report claims that the planned regulation doesn’t correspond to the European Union (EU) Acquis and the discrimination continues.
The headings in Turkey’s Progress Report 2012 by European Commission, which calls the Government for duty to protect LGBTs against discrimination and violence are as follows:
The Anti-discrimination and Equality Commission must correspond to EU Acquis
“There is still a lack of an antidiscimination law that also includes the formation of antidiscrimination and equility commission. A bill was introduced to the assembly and the relevant committee removed the regulation about eliminating the discrimination due to sexual identity and sexual orientation. The current legislative framework does not go paralel with European Union Acquis and discrimination due to ethnic, religious, sexual identities and other presences continues.”
Homosexuality isn’t a crime but LGBTs are exposed to discrimination and violence
“In Turkey, homosexuality isn’t a crime that comes with penalty. However; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are still exposed to dicrimination or intimidation, and are being victimized in violent crimes.”
The discrimination in the workplace due to sexual orientation continues
“LGBT employees and public personnels get fired because of their sexual orientation. They are being exposed to discrimination concerning housing an health services (especially against transgender people). Many lawsuits and legal procedings are being held right now.”
LGBTs’ right to live isn’t guaranteed; the offenders go unpunished
“In Turkey during 2011, life right abuses, tortures, maltreatings and sexual abuses agains LGBT people were reported. The deficiencies that existed in the investigations about the crimes due to different sexual identity or orientation caused to offenders to go unpunished.”
LGBTs continue to be punished by “Public Morality”
“The clauses of ‘exhibitionism’ and ‘behaviours contrary to public morality’, also of Misdemeanor Law in Turkish Penal Code were highly used to discriminate against LGBT people and impose a penalty on them.”
Transphopic offenders are protected under the cover of “unjust provocation”
“‘It is still a huge problem that the principle of Unjust Provocation is used to protect people who commit crimes against transsexuals. The police was accused by LGBT human rights advocates of the arbitrary arrests and violence, but those advocates were sued.”
Turkish Armed Force still sees homosexuality as an “ilness”
“The well known people often used negative stereotypes while speaking about LGBT people. Internal rules of Turkish Armed Force (TSK) still define homosexuality as a “psychosexual” illness and claim that homosexuals are not capable for serving military.”
No laws against discrimination; need for support of the Government!
In the expansion strategy document that was announced with the Progress Report, it was emphasized that more efforts must be made in antidiscrimination. It was also stated that there is no compherensive antidiscrimination law at all.
It was claimed that due to the lacking of an antidiscrimination law; some groups including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people should be protected effectively by the Government against social abuse, discrimination and violence.
Translation: Birce Pakkan / Kaos GL
Tags:
human rights
