On 17 February 2025, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca met with the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association (OICOA) Board of Directors, of which he holds the Presidency, in an online meeting.
Details...On 23 January 2025, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of Qatar, Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, and her accompanying delegation paid a visit to the Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Akarca.
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Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Mr. Şeref Malkoç met with Russian Prisoners of War (POWs) in Ukraine and the Families of Ukrainian POWs who are held in Russia.
Upon the invitation of Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Dmytro Lubinets, Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Mr. Şeref Malkoç and Ombudsman Mr. Sadettin Kalkan paid a working visit to Ukraine.
Together with Mr. Dmytro Lubinets and the Ambassador of Republic of Türkiye to Ukraine, Mr. Mustafa Levent Bilgen, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç attended the iftar program held by the President of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the representatives of Muslim countries.
During the program, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Malkoç had a meeting with President of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Within the framework of the visit, Mr. Malkoç made observations in Odessa and first visited the historical Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was severely damaged and partially destroyed as a result of the missile attack of the Russian Federation on 23 July 2023. After the observations at the Cathedral, the delegation went to Odessa Port and obtained information about the damage to the infrastructure of the port and grain warehouses as a result of Russia's attacks. The delegation also observed the destruction of the high-rise hotel overlooking the harbor. During the visits, the delegation was accompanied by Consul General of Türkiye in Odessa Mr. Birey Yılmazsoy and the staff of the Embassy of Türkiye to Ukraine.
Within the framework of the working visit, the Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç attended the meeting held under the chairmanship of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Dmytro Lubinets, at the Office of the Ukrainian Commissioner in the capital Kyiv. After expressing her gratitude to Mr. Malkoç for his visit, Mr. Lubinets gave comprehensive information about the mandate, duties and activities of the Institution. During the meeting, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Malkoç gave information about the activities of the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye. Ambassador Mr. Bilgen also accompanied the delegation at the meeting.
Ombudsman Malkoç Met with the Families of POWs
Within the framework of the Ukraine program, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Malkoç met with the families of POWs in Russia and listened to the problems and demands of the families in Ukraine. It was notable that the common subject of many of the problems and demands expressed was that families did not have information about whether their relatives were alive or where they were kept, if they were alive. Chief Ombudsman Malkoç stated that as Ombudspersons, they will do their best on this matter. Malkoç stated that they will discuss this issue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the authorities in the Russian Federation and convey the demands of the families.
Chief Ombudsman Mr. Malkoç also attended the event organized for "internally displaced persons (IDPs)" who had to leave their homes as a result of the conflicts and gave a speech there. In his speech, Mr. Malkoç talked about the purpose of his visit to Ukraine and wished for a fair end to the war as soon as possible.
Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Mr. Şeref Malkoç met with the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Mr. Refat Chubarov, the leader of Crimean Tatar Turks, former Chairman of the Mejlis Mr. Mustafa Abdülcemil Kırımoğlu and other Members of the Mejlis. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Dmytro Lubinets and the Ambassador of Türkiye to Ukraine Mr. Mustafa Levent Bilgen also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Mr. Malkoç obtained information about the current situation and problems of the Crimean Tatars.
Mr. Malkoç monitored the building destroyed by missile fragments that fell in the city center of Kyiv and damage they caused in the surrounding area, and visited the memorial wall dedicated to the Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives during the war and laid flowers.
Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç visited the Child Rights Protection Center, which is under the Ukrainian Ombudsman Institution. With the participation of the Ambassador of Türkiye to Ukraine Mr. Mustafa Levent Bilgen, the delegation also met with the officials of UNICEF Ukraine Office at the meeting. UNICEF officials emphasized the importance of the Ombudsman's role in protecting children's rights and thanked Türkiye and especially the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye for their support to Ukrainian children and their cooperation with UNICEF.
Following his observations and contacts in Kyiv, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç went to Lviv to visit the camp where Russian POWs were held and carried out comprehensive observations, particularly in the areas where the prisoners first entered the camps, the dormitories, toilets and bathrooms, dining halls, workshops and shelters, and received information about the health services provided to the prisoners. Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç met with Muslim prisoners, asked about their demands and congratulated the Muslim prisoners on Eid al-Fitr.
Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç visited the Lviv regional office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and received information about the activities they carry out.
Mr. Malkoç Paid a Visit to the Comissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Poland
Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Şeref Malkoç together with Ombudsman Mr. Sadettin Kalkan, paid a visit to the Comissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Poland Mr. Marcin Wiącek, accompanied by the Deputy Ombudsman Mr. Valeri Vachev.
During the meeting, the competences of both Ombudsman Institutions and actions taken to protect human rights and freedoms were discussed as well as the potential of inter-institutional cooperation.
Chief Ombudsman Mr. Şeref Malkoç and Ombudsman Mr. Sadettin Kalkan visited Yunus Emre Institute in Warsaw and received information about their work.
Within the framework of their Poland program, Ombudsman Mr. Malkoç and Ombudsman Mr. Sadettin Kalkan visited the Embassy of Türkiye to Poland and met with First Undersecretary Mr. Çağdaş Bilgin.
E-mail: iletisim@ombudsman.gov.tr (For general inquiries)
E-mail: turkiye@ombudsman.gov.tr (For international affairs)
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