ANKARA
Releasing a statement on Monday on the occasion of the Human Rights Day, Turkish FM Davutoglu said that they were commemorating the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is regarded since its adoption in 1948 as the constitution of all documents in the field of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Noting the United Nations established the theme of Human Rights Day as "the inclusion and right to participate in public life", Davutoglu said, "In this context, enabling individuals to participate in decision making processes and in public life is one of the most important requirements for increasing the standards of democracy and enabling good governance. In order to respond to the democratic request and expectations of citizens, the civil society should be provided with the opportunity to express its demands and expectations and to contribute to the decision making processes. It is essential that all individuals have the right to participate in public administration as it is also stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which our country is a party."
Stating that the protection and promotion of the set of universal values inherent in human rights continues to be one of the fundamental elements of the Turkish foreign policy, Davutoglu said they maintained our close and constructive cooperation with the international organizations and mechanism.
Noting that considerable progress was made in 2012 in becoming party to international conventions on human rights, "as of March 14, 2012 Turkey became party to the 'Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence', opened for signature last year within the Council of Europe which our country is a founding member. Turkey is the first Council of Europe country which signed and ratified the Convention. Furthermore, Third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding Individual Communication was signed by Turkey on September 24, 2012. Combating hate speech which is on the rise against members of certain religions and beliefs and cases of discrimination and intolerance, continues to be among the key priorities of our foreign policy in the context of human rights. It is the responsibility of the international community to take all necessary measures in combating these kinds of incidents occurring in societies and establishing the culture of religious tolerance and understanding. We can make tolerance and respect for diversity an indispensable part of political and social culture, if we continue efforts to improve human rights," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu stated that he joined in the celebration of the Human Rights Day of their nation and the international society, and wished a bright future in which respect for human rights takes root around the world.
