Message by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the Europe Day, 9 May 2014 Message by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of 8th of March, The International Women’s Day, 7 March 2014 Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013 Press Statement by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey on the Latest Developments in Egypt, 4 July 2013, Istanbul Message by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of “The 9 May Europe Day” The message issued by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of the 8th of March, The Internatıonal Women’s Day Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012 Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of “The Europe Day” of May 9th, 08 May 2012 Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Turkey’s membership to NATO, 17 February 2012 Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2011. Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2010 Press Statement by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Result of the Referendum Held in Turkey on 12 September 2010 Message of H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the Occasion of Europe Day, 9 May 2009
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Message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012

We commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is regarded since its adoption in 1948 as the constitution of all documents in the field of fundamental rights and freedoms.

This year, the United Nations established the theme of Human Rights Day as “the inclusion and right to participate in public life”. In this context, enabling individuals to participate in decision making processes and in public life is one of the most important requirements for increasing the standards of democracy and enabling good governance. In order to respond to the democratic requests and expectations of citizens, the civil society should be provided with the opportunity to express its demands and expectations and to contribute to the decision making processes. It is essential that all individuals have the right to participate in public administration as it is also stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which our country is a party.

The protection and promotion of the set of universal values inherent in human rights continues to be one of the fundamental elements of the Turkish foreign policy. Along this line, we maintain our close and constructive cooperation with the international organizations and mechanisms.

Notable progress was made in 2012 in becoming party to international conventions on human rights. In this context, as of 14 March 2012, Turkey became party to the “Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence”, opened for signature last year within the Council of Europe which our country is a founding member. Turkey is the first Council of Europe country which signed and ratified the Convention. Furthermore, Third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding Individual Communication was signed by Turkey on 24 September 2012.

Combating hate speech which is on the rise against members of certain religions and beliefs and cases of discrimination and intolerance, continues to be among the key priorities of our foreign policy in the context of human rights. It is the responsibility of the international community to take all necessary measures in combating these kinds of incidents occurring in societies and establishing the culture of religious tolerance and understanding. We can make tolerance and respect for diversity an indispensable part of political and social culture, if we continue efforts to improve human rights.

I celebrate the Human Rights Day of our nation and the international society, and wish a bright future in which respect for human rights takes root around the world.