Development of human rights at local level by 2000s: Province and district human rights boards

Abstract

The development of democracy is closely related to the protection and development of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, in Turkey with 2000s, comprehensive constitutional and legal regulations which directly regarding human rights have been made, particularly the constitutional amendments of 2001, 2004 and 2010. The establishment of Province and District Human Rights Boards as an institutional mechanism that aims to promote and protect human rights and to maintain the individual and state relations on a more democratic basis take an important place in these regulations. In this process, human rights units have been established in public institutions and organizations as an indication of citizen-focused change and transformation in the functioning of public administration. Province and District Human Rights Boards was established to view applications for human rights violations, investigate, evaluate the results and to assist in the development of human rights in the society by carrying out education and awareness activities in this regard. These boards are characterized as an important mechanism of supervision and participation in that their members are composed of representatives of local governments, political parties and non-governmental organizations. In the study, the developments achieved in the field of democracy and human rights and the studies conducted based on the functions of the province and district human rights boards, which are included among these developments in Turkey with the 2000s will be evaluated.