In the World Report on Violence and Health prepared by the World Health Organization, violence is defined as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation." In the report, it has been stated that even if violence against persons, especially children and the elderly, does not result in death, it may still cause physical, psychological, and social issues, that its consequences may be invisible or take years to manifest, therefore the definition of violence should be interpreted broadly.
Many international conventions, particularly the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, protect the right to life, the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment and respect for human dignity. In parallel with the aforementioned treaties and declarations, in the Article 17 of the Turkish Constitution it has been gruaranteed that: "Everyone has the right to life and the right to protect and improve his/her corporeal and spiritual existence. The corporeal integrity of the individual shall not be violated, no one shall be subjected to torture or mal-treatment; no one shall be subjected to penalties or treatment incompatible with human dignity." These principles form the foundations of a non-violent society.
With the UN General Assembly resolution dated 5/6/2007, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian Independence Movement, October 2nd was designated as International Day of Non-Violence to promote non-violence and commemorate Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance. With his words, “Violence begets violence, non-violence begets peace.” Gandhi emphasized the power of non-violence in achieving social change and justice, and argued that this understanding is an important instrument for peace and equality around the world.
Our Institution, whose main mission is to protect the right to equal treatment of persons on the basis of human dignity and prevention of discrimination in exercising the legally acknowledged rights and freedoms, and combating torture and ill-treatment, hopes that acts of violence which hinder fundamental rights and freedoms across the world to stop on the occasion of October 2nd International Day of Non-Violence.
Respectfully announced to the public.