08.11.2006 - Source: European Commission

Rights of disabled people ("Turkey 2006 Progress Report") [ID 19712]

"As regards the rights of disabled people, several implementing legislation were issued following the entry into force of the Law on People with Disabilities in 2005. These cover areas such as workplaces and educational services for disabled people. More needs to be done to establish decentralised structures and services for disabled people and also to facilitate access to education of children with disabilities."

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Border Agency (Home Office)

People with Disabilities ("Country Report - October 2005") [#40563],  [ID 14571]

"5.177 The Turkish Daily News reported in December 2003 that according to a survey carried out by the Turkish Institute of Statistics and the State Planning Organisation disabled people in Turkey number nearly 8.5 million which equates to 12.29% of the population. [23h] Another article in December 2003 stated that Turkey has a large physically handicapped population estimated to be around 500,000. Ten to 15 people are injured every day in traffic accidents alone. Turkey has 14 physical rehabilitation centres with a total bed capacity of 1,931, an increase on the 1,295 beds available in 2002. [23j]

5.178 The article further reported that “The Ministry of Health is constructing two further hospitals each with an extra 100-bed capacity. However, the Chairman of the Physically Handicapped in Turkey Association stated that the current rehabilitation centres were not providing qualified services and only some centres in Istanbul, Ankara and Kastamonu were providing satisfactory services for the physically handicapped.” [23j]

5.179 The USSD 2004 reported that:

“There was no discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other state services, although they did suffer from a lack of economic opportunity. The law does not mandate access to buildings and public transportation for persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities have some privileges, such as the right to purchase products of State economic enterprises at a discount or acquire them at no cost… Companies with more than 50 employees were required to hire persons with disabilities as 2 percent of their employee pool, although the requirement was not consistently enforced.” [5c] (Section 5)

5.180 The European Commission 2004 reported that “As regards the rights of disabled people, in July 2004 a circular was issued stating that at least 3% of the staff in public institutions with more than 50 employees should be disabled and/or ex-convicts. According to official sources, there has been a significant increase in the recruitment of disabled persons since last year. However, Turkey has still not accepted Article 15 of the European Social Charter on the rights of disabled persons.” [71c] (p46)

5.181 The Freedom House report ‘Countries at the Crossroads 2005 – Turkey’, published in December 2004 noted that:

“The interests of people with disabilities are addressed by the High Council of Disabilities, which brings public officials together with nongovernmental groups. The council has admirable aims and even conducted a thorough survey of people with disabilities in 2002 in order to address problems better. Nevertheless, the needs of such people continue to exceed the limited services provided.” [62c] (p4)

5.182 As noted in a report by the Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) entitled ‘Behind Closed Doors: Human Rights Abuses in the Psychiatric Facilities, Orphanages and Rehabilitation Centers of Turkey’ (released on 28 September 2005):

“Behind Closed Doors describes the findings of a two-year investigation in Turkey by Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) and exposes the human rights abuses perpetrated against children and adults with mental disabilities. Locked away and out of public view, people with psychiatric disorders as well as people with intellectual disabilities, such as mental retardation, are subjected to treatment practices that are tantamount to torture. Inhuman and degrading conditions of confinement are widespread throughout the Turkish mental health system. This report documents Turkey’s violations of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture (ECPT), the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other internationally accepted human rights and disability rights standards.” [90] (Executive Summary)

5.183 The MDRI report continued:

“There is no enforceable law or due process in Turkey that protects against the arbitrary detention or forced treatment of institutionalized people with mental disabilities. There are virtually no community supports or services, and thus, no alternatives to institutions for people in need of support. As a result, thousands of people are detained illegally, many for a lifetime, with no hope of ever living in the community. Once inside the walls of an institution, people are at serious risk of abuse from dangerous treatment practices. In order to receive any form of assistance, people must often consent to whatever treatment an institution may have to offer. For people detained in the institution, there is no right to refuse treatment. The prison-like incarceration of Turkey’s most vulnerable citizens is dangerous and life-threatening.” [90] (Executive Summary)

5.184 The European Commission 2005 report noted that:

“As regards the rights of people with disabilities, a new law on Disabled People was adopted in July 2005. The law provides for guidelines for the classification of different kinds of disabilities, and includes provisions for care services, rehabilitation, early diagnosis, employment and education of disabled people. The law stresses the need to combat discrimination against people with disabilities, and stipulates that discrimination based on disability is a crime. The law also compels the employers and public institutions to make the necessary physical arrangements in the workplaces. However, more importance should be given to improving central and decentralised structures and facilities (community-based services or institutions) for disabled people, and to improving access to education for children with disabilities.” [71e] (p97)"

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: UK Border Agency (Home Office)

UK Home Office: Only limited support is provided to the handicapped by welfare institutions ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9887],  [ID 14572]

"5.106 According to a 2000 UNICEF report on women and children in the country, welfare institutions "provide limited financial, employment and educational support to the handicapped." According to the report, the number of persons with disabilities is unknown. The Ministry of Education reports that there are 1.1 million children with disabilities in the country. Although there are many Government institutions for persons with disabilities, most attention to persons with disabilities remained at the individual and family level. The Government established an "Administration of Disabilities" office under the Prime Ministry in 1997, with the mandate of developing co-operation and co-ordination among national and international institutions, and to conduct research into issues such as delivery of services. Companies who employ more than 50 employees are required to hire persons with disabilities as 2% of their employee pool, although there is no penalty for failure to comply. The law does not mandate accessibility to buildings and public transportation for the disabled."

Document(s): Open document