Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) ended Human Rights Week with a human chain in Beşiktaş Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Square.

Gülseren Yoleri, head of the IHD Istanbul Branch, made the first speech at the event and pointed out that despite the end of the State of Emergency, human rights violations are increasing.

Yoleri pointed out the failure to implement any of the conventions on human rights of which Turkey is a signatory.

Stating that the duty of the state is to protect the citizens, Yoleri added: "The state has a responsibility of preventing murders of women and in the workplace, child deaths and abuse. But the state does not fulfill this responsibility. While torture and ill-treatment should be banned, there is an increase of them. Unfortunately, the judiciary has a weak attitude towards the prevention of torture."

Ümit Biçer, board member of the TIHV, recalled that the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights is 71 years old. "We are talking about a story that began 71 years ago. We're talking about the story of hope. Unfortunately there is no decrease in wars in the world and the number and diversity of rights violations experienced increased."