Human Rights Law (ECHR) and UN Working Groups

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Merit Law LLP represents individuals in cases involving violations of core human rights treaties, particularly before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and United Nations bodies. The firm frequently files interim measures to prevent the deportation of individuals whose asylum claims have been denied.

The UN human rights system operates through two main types of mechanisms:

These are established under the UN Charter and focus on broader, systemic human rights concerns.

• Human Rights Council – Complaint Procedure:
  This mechanism addresses gross and systematic violations of human rights. It is not intended for individual complaints regarding isolated incidents.
  
• Special Procedures:
  These include Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, and Working Groups tasked with investigating specific countries or thematic issues. Operating voluntarily, they assess states' compliance with international human rights standards and provide recommendations.
  

These involve UN Committees made up of independent experts who monitor compliance with specific human rights treaties.

• A committee may review a state only if the state is a party to the relevant treaty.
• Many of the available procedures are optional, and states may choose whether or not to accept them.
• The only mandatory obligation for all States Parties is to submit periodic reports for review.
• Committee authority is limited to the rights protected under each treaty. If a state has entered a reservation upon ratifying a treaty, the committee’s oversight is limited accordingly.
  
  

Turkey is a State Party to 16 core United Nations human rights treaties. Its compliance with these treaties is monitored by the corresponding UN treaty bodies.

Turkey has recognized the authority of six committees to receive and review individual complaints submitted under these treaties. These include

• Human Rights Committee
  (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
  
• Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
  (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women)
  
• Committee on the Rights of the Child
  (Convention on the Rights of the Child)
  
• Committee Against Torture
  (Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment)
  
• Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
  (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture)
  
• Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
  

By recognizing these committees, Turkey allows individuals under its jurisdiction to seek remedies for alleged human rights violations through the UN system.