As International Human Rights Day, 10 December, is celebrated around the world, in Turkey the situation regarding human rights is dire. All rights, first and foremost the right to life, is under threat in Turkey.

In 1948 on this day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in Paris and two years later 10 December was proclaimed to be International Human Rights Day. In recent years in Turkey ‘Human Rights Week’ has been marked between 10 and 17 December.

As in many countries in the world, human rights remains a major issue in Turkey. From identity and cultural rights to women’s rights and from children’s rights to workers’ rights there are numerous problems. From workers dying in ‘work accidents’ to those who lose their lives after being shot by police while exercising their democratic right to protest, every year the right to life is violated as due to impunity those responsible for these deaths are not brought to justice.

Thousands of people are arrested and deprived of their rights and freedoms. Then there are the sick inmates of prisons prevented from receiving treatment and the torture of child prisoners.

Coffins leaving the prisons

Principal violations are those stemming from the Kurdish question. As a result of poor conditions in prisons Yaşar Dere, Celal Kılıçaslan, Celal Binici, Şehmus Yetek, Ali Çakıcı, Seyithan Taşkıran, Çağdaş Aktepe, Aram Akyüz, İrfan Eskibağ, Ramazan Özalp and Osman Akan died in prison. While sick prisoners are abandoned to their fate, the right to life continues to be ignored.

The Kurds who were forced to flee from Kobanê and Sinjar and took refuge in Turkey are also the victims of rights violations. Arabs from Syria are also unable to avail themselves of any rights.

In solidarity protests with Kobanê that took place between 6 and 12 October 46 people’s right to life was violated and nothing has been said about those responsible. This illustrates clearly the level of human rights violations in Turkey.

The Internal Security Package brought to parliament last week demonstrates that the government is protecting its rights rather than human rights. At the weekend at a protest to commemorate the deaths of Veysel İşbilir, Mehmet Reşit İşbilir and Bermal Tokçu at the hands of the police in Yüksekova last year, Rojhat Özdel was shot dead by police.

What children suffer

According to the Human Rights Association IHD) data between 1 January and 19 November 2014 in prisons 49 children were victims of torture, while 64 suffered torture and ill treatment while in police custody. During the same period 360 children were detained and 59 of them were formally arrested, while 42 were injured. Apart from this, children are made to beg and exploited as cheap labour in many sectors.

Increasing violence against women

Every day in Turkey 4 or 5 women are victims of violence and exploitation. Laws in Turkey are no deterrent, and women continue to be murdered at an alarming rate. As for the government, it turns a blind eye to mounting criticism and reactions.

5 women have been victims of ‘honour killings’ so far this year and 6 LGBT or non-Muslim women have been murdered in hate crimes. 16 women have been injured and 32 have committed suicide, while 10 have attempted suicide. In attacks 294 women have been murdered and 458 injured. 142 women have been the victims of sexual assault and rape and 202 women forced into prostitution.

Hundreds of women have also affected by the gang attacks on Kobanê and Sinjar. There is continuing brutality with women being sold in markets, murdered and subjected to rape.

Violence, exploitation and violations in daily life

Only 26% of women in Turkey are in employment. More than 4 million work in the black economy. Many women work for low wages and without any social security in the rag trade or as seasonal workers. Women involved in democratic struggle are also targeted by the state. Women suffer violence at the hands of the police and the violence and hate speech of the government which possesses a discriminatory and male domination mentality.

No end to the violation of the right to life in work accidents

In the first 8 months of this year alone, 1.269 workers have died in work related accidents. 123 died in November. Hundreds of mine workers have died in Soma and Ermenek, while others have died in the construction and agricultural sectors. The culture of impunity means there is no end to these accidents, as the authorities are on the side of capital, not of human rights and working people.

Human Rights Week in Turkey occurs in such an environment, and human rights activists, women and workers will again raise their demands and march for democracy, equality and justice.