HL Deb 10 January 1994 vol 551 cc3-4WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the main findings of the United Nations Committee Against Torture following their investigation of Turkey under Article 20 of the Convention; whether the recent Constitutional Court ruling that "a public official accused of torture would be liable to public proceedings in accordance with the normal procedure" applies to the 10 provinces under emergency rule, and what are the responsibilities of the United Kingdom as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture to ensure that the committee's recommendations in relation to Turkey are implemented.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

I refer the noble Lord to the summary report of the UN Committee Against Torture, a copy of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

After contacts with our Embassy in Ankara, I can tell the noble Lord that we are not aware of any such recent ruling by the Constitutional Court.

We regularly remind the Turkish Government that it must live up to its international human rights obligations. The United Nations will continue to monitor closely Turkey's implementation of the recommendations of the Committee Against Torture.