NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS AS A HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION MECHANISM: THE CASES OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY INSTITUTION OF TURKEY adopted by the Council of Europe of which Turkey is also a member in Istanbul in 2011 and ratified by Turkey.27 It is observed that many presentations were made in contrary to the universality of human right during the two symposia held by TIHEK up to now, opinions that could not be considered in the context of human rights were frequently expressed and a right not existing in the law of human rights (the right to protection of the family) was put forth to seek for the complete elimination of nearly all applicable international standards on the rights of women through a conservative approach.28 In these respects, the Institution not only fails to fulfill the duties assumed thereby regarding human rights, but also places in the center of its activities the elimination of current achievements concerning human rights. This situation is explicitly contrary to the requirements of "promoting and ensuring the harmonization of national legislation, regulations and practices with the international human rights instruments to which the State is a party, and their effective implementation" as set forth in the Paris Principles and "carrying out the activities of an equality institution based on the relevant international or national legal framework, standards, and case law" as specified in para. 31 of ECRI GPT2. In addition, no information is available as to the effect that the Institution contributes to the preparation of the reports that must be submitted by the state to the examination, monitoring and inspection mechanisms established as per international human rights conventions. Although the Institution assigned representatives for attending the international meetings where such reports would be submitted, this attendance proved to be symbolic and the Institution did not contribute to or influence any of the evaluation processes for the reports of contracting states. A similar situation is in place for the implementation of Article 11 on the duties and powers of TIHEK Board. The Board does not perform any activity intended for monitoring and evaluating problems concerning the enforcement of judicial verdicts on the violations of non-discrimination under Article 11(1)(c). It is not known whether or not any request for opinion has been submitted to judicial bodies, public institutions and organizations and from relevant persons concerning its mandate under Article 11(1)(d) of TIHEK Law and, if any, whether or not any opinion has been submitted. As for membership with international organizations regulated in Article 11(1)(e) of TIHEK Law, it is observed that the Institution is only a member of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), which does not have any accreditation practice in place. TIHEK is not a member of the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET). The strategic plan prescribed in Article 11(1)(g) of TIHEK Law was prepared in 2018 although it was not shared with the public.29 The statement by the Institution regarding this plan shows that the aim regarding discrimination was expressed in general terms (taking and implementing relevant measures for staging an effective fight against discrimination in 27 See also, “Chairman of TIHEK stated that the Istanbul Convention did not have any aim of protecting the family in contrary to the United Nations Universal Declaration and the Law No. 6284 adopted based on this Convention has turned into a punishment mechanism going beyond the Istanbul Convention.”, "Chairman of TIHEK Arslan Attended the Meeting of the Committee on Equality of Opportunity for Women and Men", https://www.tihek.gov.tr/tihek-baskani-arslan-kefek-toplantisina-katildi/ (accessed: July 31, 2020). 28 Proceedings of TIHEK I. Human Rights Symposium - Rethinking the Human Rights, https://www.tihek.gov.tr/upload/file_editor/2019/04/Sempozyum1.pdf; Proceedings of the Right to Protection of the Family Under I. Human Rights Symposium, https:// tihek.gov.tr/upload/file_editor/2020/04/Sempozyum2_2.pdf (accessed: July 31, 2020). 29 TIHEK, 2018 Activity Report, p. 90, https://www.tihek.gov.tr/upload/file_editor/2019/2018_faaliyet_raporu.pdf (accessed: July 31, 2020). 21