Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

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22.18 The European Commission 2005 also reported that:
“During a demonstration marking international Women’s Day in Istanbul on 6 March 2005, police intervened with disproportionate force, using tear gas and truncheons and injuring a number of participants. The government quickly conveyed the message that such behaviour on the part of the police is unacceptable. Following the incident, the Ministry of Interior demoted and fined 6 policemen and reprimanded 3 senior officials. A judicial investigation, launched by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor, is ongoing.” [71d] (p29)
22.19 The EC 2005 report further recorded that:
“Following this incident, in April 2005 the Ministry of Interior issued a circular, reminding governors of the importance of implementing the August 2004 circular, which sought to prevent the use of disproportionate force by members of the security forces and ensure appropriate sanctions when excessive force is used. The new circular emphasises the need for the inspection body within the Ministry of Interior to exercise more vigilance in ensuring consistent implementation. In practice the implementation of such circulars varies

considerably from province to province. In practice the implementation of such circulars varies considerably from province to province.” [71d] (p29)
22.20 The EC 2006 report further recorded that:
“The administrative investigations have been finalised into the incidents during a demonstration promoting women's rights in March 2005. Three members of the Istanbul Directorate of Security have been punished with a reprimand due to Failure in undertaking the duty of training and supervising members under their command. A further six staff members have been punished with a salary deduction due to disproportionate use of force when dispersing the demonstrators and speaking to or treating the public in a degrading manner. The investigation launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Istanbul

against seven police officers is currently ongoing.” [71a] (p15)
22.21 Amnesty International USA, in an article posted in May 2006 ‘Turkey establishes initiatives to prevent violence against women’ said that:
“Turkey's State Minister in Charge of Women Affairs Nimet Cubukcu announced two initiatives to prevent violence against women and raise awareness among men. One of the initiatives, the ‘Platform to Prevent Violence,’ intends to educate 800,000 soldiers to prevent violence through military service. The Turkish government initiatives are in part a response to the substantial rise of female suicides in the country. It is reported that thirty-six women have attempted suicide in the south-eastern region this year, already exceeding last year's total. BBC's Sarah Rainsford stated: changing the mentality that drives such killings is an enormous task.” [12c]