By Toby McIntosh
Turkey is seeking to prevent Article 19, a major nongovernmental organization on freedom of expression, from participating in a just-begun United Nation meeting on organized crime.
Turkey’s move was punted to a committee Oct. 12, but a requirement for consensus decision-making may allow Turkey to prevail despite widespread opposition from other countries gathered for the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC).
Turkey’s ambassador to the UNTOC meeting made a point of order as the meeting opened Oct. 12, stating, “It is unacceptable to invite nongovernmental organizations which support criminal and terrorist organizations.”
Ambassadors from Japan, Germany, Canada, Chile and Norway subsequently expressed their support for the participation of civil society. The Oct. 12-16 meetings are being webcast and the relevant exchange is here.
The presiding officer referred the matter to a committee called the “Extended Bureau” for consideration.
Article 19, based in London is a frequent participant in a variety of UN forums. it holds “ECOSOC credentials,” a consultative status granted to many NGOs by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that provides NGOs with access to not only ECOSOC, but also to its many subsidiary bodies.
Under Rule 17 governing the UNTOC meeting, “Relevant non-governmental organizations having consultative status with the Economic and Social Council may apply to the bureau for observer status, which should be accorded unless otherwise decided by the Conference.” The rule also says, “If there is an objection, the matter will be referred to the Conference for a decision.”
The Turkish ambassador stressed that a conference consensus is necessary.
Turkey may have objected to observer status for other NGOs, the ambassador referred to “some NGOs,” but no list appeared to be available. One NGO source said another Turkish target is the International Association of Judges, but that could not be confirmed.
Separately, the presiding officer said that “one state party” had objected to the participation of the Libyan Transparency Association, a group that has previously attended without objection.
Article 19, and other NGOs, have been critical of Turkey’s record on human rights.
“Turkey’s continued efforts to suppress free expression amid its UPR adoption raises serious doubts over its commitment to its human rights obligations,” Article 19 said in a Sept 29 tweet, referring to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Turkey by the UN Human Rights Council.
A joint statement at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council was delivered by independent journalist Banu Guven on behalf of ARTICLE 19, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, English PEN, Freemuse, IFEX, International Press Institute (IPI), PEN International, PEN Norway and Punto24. On Sept. 28, ARTICLE 19 and partners held an online panel on the topic.See more on both here.
Turkey’s move at UNTOC was called “disgraceful” by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a European NGO that tracks, monitors and reacts to violations of press and media freedom in EU member states and candidate countries.
