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Using videotaped prosecution of policemen for human rights violations as an education tool

Summary
The Police Academy in Turkey incorporated human rights education into police training to educate about the personal and societal consequences of violating human rights has been incorporated into police pre-service training throughout Turkey. A major component of the training is the screening of a video-taped trial of an officer accused of violating human rights. Human rights related education now constitutes about a quarter of police officer’s pre-service, second-level training. Participants in this training go on to become high-ranking police officers. Participants are given pre- and post-training questionnaires to ascertain how the training impacts their knowledge of human rights. Survey results show that the training greatly increased participant knowledge about human rights.
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Tactic: Education and Awareness Intervention Type: Promotion
Organization: Turkish Police Academy Sector Initiating Tactic: Government
Country: Turkey Sector Intended To Affect: Police

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The Turkey Police Academy uses videotaped prosecution of policemen for human rights violations to teach police academy candidates about the consequences of violating human rights. This tactic was used as part of a larger strategy in police academy human rights education for police candidates to incorporate the understanding, value and use of investigation and interrogation procedures that do not violate the human rights of the accused. Turkey is working to eradicate the practice of police in higher authority misusing their positions and actually being promoted to higher rank for doing so. This has pointed to the need for a judiciary that pursues both the criminal and human rights violators.

Viewing a video of an actual trial of a policeman accused of human rights violations provides a powerful example to the police academy candidates that undermines the assumptions they have carried regarding human rights as well as helps to change misunderstandings or misperceptions regarding human rights. Initially, candidates believe that:
respect for human rights harms the combat capacity of the security forces—in order to catch criminals they can and must use any method available;
human rights is a barrier—security forces are fighting crime and all methods are valid when fighting a war;
criminals are not normal people—use of violence or pressure on the accused is considered standard operating procedure; and
human rights don’t pertain to themselves—candidates have not perceived that human rights encompass the protection for their own rights.

Dr. Vahit Bıçak developed the tactic by collecting videotaped footage of prosecutions of police officers who had violated human rights. He then compiled a 90-minute video from these prosecution tapes showing policemen who have been brought in front of a judge for violation of human rights. His tactic was met with initial resistance when the original ten cassettes covering the whole trial disappeared as well as the 90-minute cassette. Dr. Bıçak was prepared and had a spare copy from which new copies were produced.

In addition to using the video tape, Dr. Bıçak developed a ten (10) question questionnaire to elicit the opinions and values of police academy candidates related to human rights. This questionnaire is given to candidates prior to and after receiving a 12-month human rights education course. The candidates respond to these questions anonymously so they can write their true thoughts. Results collected from the survey done at the end of term clearly show the tactic has had a positive effect on the police candidates to develop empathy for suspects. In addition, discussions with candidates after watching the film have also clearly shown the positive effect of the tactic.

For example, the questionnaire asks the candidates if any of the following situations would constitute an obstacle to an investigation of a crime and why:
The right of the accused to remain silent
Informing the suspect about the reason why he has been detained
Telling the family of the accused his location
Providing the accused with a medical exam (to verify ill-treatment or torture)
Reminding the accused of the right to counsel
Legal counsel is present and provides advice during the taking of the accused testimony.

Academy candidates are shown the 90-minute video with the purpose of creating awareness that police can be charged and prosecuted for human rights violations and to build empathy among candidates that all accused should be afforded human rights protections.

Post graduation inquiries reveal that a continuing obstacle remains the police already in the field. They make it difficult for the Academy graduates to implement the values and human rights training they have acquired. It goes against the standard operating procedures they encounter when they get to the field to work. As more candidates are trained in human rights, they are informed of human rights, the consequences for violating these laws and can reinforce this knowledge among themselves as colleagues.


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