11.02.2025 22:51
The Public Ombudsman Mehmet Akarca stated that in 2024, the most complained-about ministries were the Ministry of Justice with 18.68%, the Ministry of Health with 6.35%, and the Ministry of National Education with 5.97%.
The Joint Commission, consisting of members from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Petition Commission and the Human Rights Inquiry Commission, convened under the chairmanship of AK Party Adana Deputy Sunay Karamık.
REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE TBMM PRESIDENCY Karamık explained that the 2024 Annual Report of the Public Ombudsman Institution (KDK) will first be examined in the sub-commission, and that he will present the report prepared by the sub-commission to the Joint Commission, which consists of members from the TBMM Petition Commission and the TBMM Human Rights Inquiry Commission. Karamık noted that the report, which will take its final form with the evaluations made in the Joint Commission, will later be submitted to the TBMM Presidency. He pointed out that the recommendations of the Joint Commission play an important role in the increasing awareness and effectiveness of the KDK, alongside the work carried out by the institution. Karamık stated that institutions that do not implement the KDK's recommendations are invited to the commission to be heard, and their justifications for their attitudes are evaluated, adding that in recent years, institutions that have complied with the recommendations at a high rate have been invited to the commission and rewarded, and examples of good practices have been shared with the public.
15,751 APPLICATIONS CONCLUDED IN 2024 Public Ombudsman Akarca informed the members of parliament in the commission about the KDK 2024 Annual Report. Akarca emphasized that the KDK makes a difference in individuals' pursuit of rights and significantly contributes to the development of a culture of seeking rights, stating that since its establishment, the institution has received 241,482 applications, of which 240,679 have been concluded. Akarca explained that 14,762 applications reached the KDK last year, and together with 1,792 applications carried over from 2023, the institution examined a total of 16,554 applications, concluding 15,751 of them.
THE 3 MINISTRIES WITH THE MOST COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED Akarca continued his remarks as follows: "When the complaint applications made in 2024 are evaluated on a subject basis, the highest number of applications reached our institution under the headings of justice, national defense, and security, with a rate of 22.93%. In the context of public personnel regime, it was 21.47%; in the field of education, youth, and sports, it was 8.45%; in the services carried out by local administrations, it was 7.28%; in the field of labor and social security, it was 7.04%; and in the fields of economy, finance, and taxation, it was 5.23%. When the complaint applications that reached our institution in 2024 are evaluated in terms of the relevant administration, it has been determined that the Ministry of Justice ranks first with a rate of 18.68%. The application rate concerning the Ministry of Health is 6.35%, the application rate concerning the Ministry of National Education is 5.97%, and the application rate concerning the Social Security Institution is 4.40%."
"THE COMPLIANCE RATE WITH OUR INSTITUTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS IS 53.96%" Mehmet Akarca stated that out of the 15,751 applications concluded by the KDK in 2024, 4,999 were evaluated as "acceptable," noting that the acceptability rate of applications made last year was 31.74%. Akarca mentioned that this rate is pleasing as it is above the average when compared to other country ombudsman institutions. He expressed that the KDK prioritizes the amicable resolution of complaints by the administration, providing information that out of the applications reaching the KDK in 2024, 1,029 were "referral decisions," and a total of 2,498 were resolved amicably.
Akarca added: "In addition, our institution makes recommendations to the relevant administrations as a result of its examinations and investigations. In 2024, a 'partially recommended, partially rejected' decision was made regarding 525 applications, and a 'recommendation' decision was made regarding 913 applications. When the responses of the administrations to these recommendations are evaluated, it has been stated that they will comply with 716 of our decisions, while justifications have been provided for 611 of our decisions by the relevant administrations. In this case, the compliance rate with our institution's recommendations has been realized as 53.96% as of the end of 2024. In this compliance rate, the negative approach of the administration regarding the 230 recommendation decisions we made about the appeal of the results of the Certified Public Accountant and Sworn-in Certified Public Accountant exams, despite the fact that it was not practically possible to comply, has been effective. However, when the aforementioned recommendation decisions are not taken into account, the compliance rate with the recommendations has been 71.29% as of 2024."
"77 THOUSAND INMATES IN PRISON WILL BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES" Public Ombudsman Akarca stated that two weeks ago, the General Director of Prisons and Detention Houses visited them and conveyed a request letter regarding prisons. Akarca mentioned that 77 thousand inmates in prisons are waiting to change their driver's licenses, stating that the deadline for renewing driver's licenses will expire on March 31, 2025. He pointed out that the individual must personally apply to change their driver's license, stating, "With our suggestion, this will be carried out in a suitable section of the prison by providing digital opportunities with the equipment to be brought there. The opportunity to change the driver's licenses of the 77 thousand inmates in prison without falling into a penal situation has been provided."