CHANGES BROUGHT BY THE LAW ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY INSTITUTION OF TURKEY

Year 2017, , 350 - 357, 30.06.2017

Basak Gunes

https://doi.org/10.17261/Pressacademia.2017.419

Abstract

On 20/04/2016, the Law No. 6701 on Human Rights and
Equality Institution of Turkey entered into force. Although it seems like a law
of association due to its name, the law essentially includes the conceptual
definitions of discrimination and the prevention of discrimination as well as
the formation, duties and authorities of the Human Rights and Equality
Institution. In this regard, the first two chapters of the Act contain the
purpose and scope, definitions, equality principle and prohibition of
discrimination, the scope of the discrimination law, types of discrimination,
discrimination law in employment and self-employment and the cases which cannot
be considered as discrimination. In other sections; the establishment,
structure, duties, personnel regime of the Human Rights and Equality
Institution of Turkey, application to the institution and its reviewing procedures
are covered. The law is open to criticism in many ways. According to Article 3
of the Law, discrimination based on gender, race, color, language, religion,
belief, sect, philosophical and political opinion, ethnicity, wealth, birth and
marital status is prohibited. It is understood that there are only a limited
number of issues to be considered as the basis for discrimination in the
matter, since there is no such phrase as "et cetera" in the ruling.
According to Article 17 of the Law, any natural or legal person who claims to
be harmed by the violation of the discrimination law may apply to the Human
Rights and Equality Institution established under the Law No. 6701. However, in
case of discrimination other than discrimination based on Article 3, it is a question
that it can not apply to the Institution. Furthermore, before applying to the
Institution, it is stipulated that the persons should request from the relevant
party to correct the application which they claim is contrary to this Law.
Stipulating such a condition in the examination of individual applications,
which is the fundamental activity to keep the institution  functioning, 
will make it difficult for the individual to apply to the institution,
especially if the discrimination is carried out by someone who has a
hierarchical relationship with the individual. When the Human Rights and
Equality Institution detects discrimination, the sanction imposed is
administrative penalty. However,  the
minimum amount of administrative penalties defined by Law is quite low. There
is also the authority of the Institution to convert this penalty to a penalty
of warning . It is therefore difficult to argue, that a deterrent sanction
mechanism is stipulated in the Law. 

Keywords

Human rights and equality institution of Turkey, definition of discrimination, equality principle, prohibition of discrimination, the Law No. 6701 on Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey

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