CAT/C/TUR/CO/3
The State party should take prompt measures to prevent all acts of torture and
ill-treatment, including rape and other forms of sexual violence, of women
deprived of their liberty and ensure accountability of all perpetrators of such
acts by undertaking prompt investigations into complaints, and, as appropriate,
prosecutions and convictions with appropriate penalties of perpetrators. The
State party should ensure that all victims of gender-based acts of torture and
ill-treatment are provided with adequate reparation and compensation,
including rehabilitation.
Domestic violence and honour killings
20.
While noting the amendments to the Family Protection Law No. 4320 in 2007 and
to the Penal Code in 2005 intended to enhance protection of women against violence and
the adoption of a National Action Plan to Combat Domestic Violence Against Women and
various training programmes for law enforcement officers, the Committee remains
concerned at the reported extent of physical and sexual violence against women. The
Committee is concerned at reports that women are rarely inclined to report ill-treatment and
violence against them to the police and at the inadequate number of available shelters for
women victims of violence, in spite of relevant provisions in the Municipal Law of 2005. In
addition, the Committee is concerned at the lack of information on reparation and
compensation, including rehabilitation, for victims as required by article 14 of the
Convention. The Committee is furthermore concerned at reports of the failure of State
authorities to investigate honour killings, and at the lack of comprehensive official statistics
on honour killings as well as on domestic violence. Also, the Committee is concerned that
under article 287 of the Penal Code judges and prosecutors can order a virginity test in rape
cases against the will of the woman (arts. 2 and 16).
The State party shall continue and strengthen its efforts, including in
cooperation with the Council of Europe, the European Union and United
Nations human rights mechanisms, to prevent and protect women from all
forms of violence. The State party should:
(a)
Undertake all necessary measures to facilitate and encourage
women to exercise their right to lodge complaints on domestic violence to the
police, including in the building and staffing of shelters, hotlines and other
protective measures;
(b)
Ensure prompt and effective investigations into all allegations of
honour killings and violence against women and ensure that perpetrators are
brought to justice and punished with penalties appropriate to the nature of
their crimes;
(c)
Ensure that victims are provided adequate reparation and
compensation, including rehabilitation;
(d)
Introduce a comprehensive system of data collection and statistics
on violence against women, including on domestic violence and honour killings,
disaggregated by age, ethnicity and minority status, and geographical location.
Children in detention
21.
While welcoming the 2010 amendments to the Law on Combating Terrorism which
prohibits trial on charges of terrorism of juveniles who attend illegal meetings and
demonstrations or distribute propaganda material for outlawed organizations and reduce of
penalties applied to those accused of terrorism-related offences, the Committee is
concerned at reports that children continue to be detained in unrecorded adult pre-charge
facilities following arrest during demonstration, including in the Anti-Terrorism Branch of
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