Enda Kenny
Question:80 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on allegations of sexual violence against women in custody in Turkey. [9933/03]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
I refer to my reply to Question No. 244 of 25 March 2003. Human rights issues are an important element of contacts at all levels between Ireland and the Government of Turkey. The embassy in Ankara, along with the embassies of our European Union partners and the representation of the European Commission, monitors the human rights situation in Turkey and regularly raises with the authorities, both formally and informally, allegations of torture and ill-treatment of people in custody. The general issue of sexual violence against women and men in detention in Turkey, and specific allegations, have been raised by the EU with the Turkish Government as part of this process.
Turkey adopted a series of human rights reforms during 2002, which included legislation aimed at the abolition of torture and ill treatment of people in custody. I have welcomed these reforms, and I welcome the willingness on the part of the Turkish Government to address the issue of torture, in all its forms. It is important now that the legislative reforms be fully implemented.
The Copenhagen European Council in December 2002 reaffirmed that Turkey is a candidate country destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same political criteria which apply to other candidate countries. These include the political criteria laid down by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, which stipulate that a candidate country must achieve stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
The European Commission's 2002 report on Turkey's progress towards accession, stated that the adoption of the human rights reforms demonstrates the determination of the majority of Turkey's political leaders to move towards further alignment with the values and standards of the European Union. It noted that these reforms were adopted under difficult political and economic circumstances, and represented a major shift in the Turkish context.
The Copenhagen European Council last December strongly welcomed the legislative packages and implementation measures adopted by Turkey and encouraged the energetic pursuit of the reform process. It gave the commitment that if the European Council in December 2004 decides that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations without delay. The eradication of all forms of torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence against women in custody, will be an important element of the assessment of the human rights situation in Turkey in this context.
Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 68.