What Does the European Union’s 2014 Türkiye Progress Report Say About Roma?
TURKEY 2014 PROGRESS REPORT
Brussels, 08.10.2014
The European Commission has published the 17th Progress Report, which evaluates the progress and shortcomings made by Turkey in the membership process.
The European Commission evaluates the progress made by the candidate country in the field of harmonization with the acquis or the shortcomings it observes in this field on an annual basis with progress reports. During the preparation of the progress reports, the Commission benefits from the feedback it receives officially from the EU Delegation to the candidate country, civil society organizations and the public institutions of the candidate country. It is expected that the criticisms expressed in the report will be taken into consideration by the governments and that it will be a reference document that will guide the work of the governments in the EU harmonization process.
Various sections of the Progress Report also include evaluations on the steps taken or not taken by the government regarding the situation of Roma in Turkey. The sections referring to Roma in the report, which has not yet been published in Turkish, are presented below for your information in Turkish.n id="more-151">
Human Rights and Protection of Minorities (Page 14-15)
The children's rights strategy was adopted on December 17, 2013. The strategy sets out the general framework of services to be provided to children in various areas such as justice, health, education and special protection services and media.
There are still regional differences in access to education. Children with disabilities and special needs, children of seasonal agricultural worker families and Roma children experience certain difficulties in accessing education. Child labor and child poverty continue to be important problems.
Social Policy and Employment (Page 40)
A holistic and comprehensive policy infrastructure needs to be developed in the field of social inclusion. Despite the increase in the social expenditure budget; the relative poverty rate (22.6%), the poverty gap rate (29.4%) and income inequality (GINI 0.402) are high compared to the EU average. The action plan to encourage social assistance recipients to enter the official labour market has produced some positive results and also demonstrates the need for an active labour market policy. The chances of disabled people finding employment in the public sector have increased. However, there are new financial incentives for the establishment of sheltered workshops in the private sector. A national Roma inclusion strategy is being prepared.
Judicial System and Fundamental Rights
Justice System (Page 56): Enrolment rates in basic primary education have exceeded 99.6%. In upper secondary education, this rate has reached 79.7%, an increase of 6%. This increase is partly due to the widespread use of distance education. The gender gap in education has decreased from 1.5% to 1.2%. Absenteeism and dropout rates at all levels of education are not officially published, but the rates reported are quite high. Regional differences in access to education are high across the country. Children with disabilities and special needs, children of seasonal agricultural workers and Roma children face particular difficulties in accessing education.
Turkish Penal Code (page 57): The Turkish Penal Code contains provisions regulating non-discrimination. Discrimination based on language, race, color, gender, disability, political opinion, philosophical and religious belief, sect and similar reasons is prohibited. The Penal Code has been amended to include hate crimes and the penalty for discrimination has been increased. Refusing to sell or rent a movable or immovable property offered to the public to a specific person is considered discrimination and is considered a crime. However, discrimination based on ethnic origin, sexual orientation and gender identity was not included in the March revision of the Penal Code. This situation directly affects the most disadvantaged minority groups, especially the Roma and Kurds.
(Page 60) Regarding the Roma, the Institute of Romani Language and Culture was established in March at Trakya University in Edirne.
The circular of the Ministry of Interior aiming to register the Roma as citizens has been accepted. However, it is estimated that a sizeable Roma population has still not been registered. It is claimed that the bureaucratic procedures for registration are very expensive and burdensome, and that applications must be made to many institutions.
(Pages 60 and 61) There is no quantitative data on the situation of Roma in Turkey. Discrimination reports continue. School dropouts, absenteeism and child labour are common among Roma. Poor housing conditions, problems related to urban transformation, and difficulties in accessing education and social security continue. Roma women face serious health risks due to early marriage and early pregnancy. Roma citizens are mostly employed in the informal labour market, working in temporary and low-paid or unskilled labour
They are employed in the workplaces. According to the report “Racist and discriminatory practices regarding employment in Turkey” published in March by the European Network Against Racism; the unemployment rate among Roma is 85%, the highest rate among all disadvantaged groups. There were no Roma mayoral candidates in the March 2014 local elections.
(Page 61) A local government in Bursa has submitted a report to the Parliament regarding the attacks on Roma homes and shops in İznik, which resulted in murders. The report contains discriminatory statements. In June, the first hearing of the case filed against 31 people who attempted to lynch Roma in İznik was held.
Representatives of local authorities and Roma NGOs in Turkey attended the European Roma Summit held in Brussels on 24 April 2014. Turkey is not included in the 2005-2015 International Decade of Roma. A national Roma strategy is in preparation and has not yet been adopted.
In December, a lawsuit initiated by Roma associations and individuals regarding the urban transformation plan in Sulukule was approved by the Council of State.
You can access the English text of the EU 2014 Türkiye Progress Report from the link below.
08.10.2014
