Turkey’s Human Rights Association (İHD) released a report saying that children marked one of the most abused fragments of the society in terms of human rights.

Dedicated to Universal Children’s Day of November 20, the statement cited several right violations including in prisons, schools and working.

Juvenile prisons

İHD stated that abuse, rape and violence cases became a routine in juvenile prisons.

“According to all the applications submitted to our association and media coverage, 49 children were tortured in prison and 64 under police detention between 1 January 2014 and 19 November 2014.

“In the same period, 360 children have detained in various demonstrations and incidents. Among these, 59 were arrested and 42 were injured.”

İHD reiterated its call for authorities to immediately release all children in prisons as well as for NGOs to work more closely with violence victim children.

It also emphasized on the impunity of child death cases where most prosecutions with nolle prosequi, acquittal or statute of limitations.

Abuse

“According to all the applications submitted to our association and media coverage, 129 children were abused by their families or outsiders between 1 January 2014 and 19 November 2014.

Child labor

“Because they have to use their energy for work instead of growing up, worker children start up their lives behind their potentials.

Education in mother tongue

“Children who start their education life with another language and stay behind compared to children with a mother tongue of the dominant language speak up: is it fair?

“Children have the right to education according to their wealth.

Victims of war

“Hundreds of children lost their families and homes in the Syrian war where Turkey has also a side. Nobody even talks about their right to education, health and life.

Right to participate

“Children have the right to participate in every decision that affect them.

“If you are sincere, you must form a mechanism to realize this.

“Children must be able to decide for a life they want for themselves and not for a world that elders and authorities need.” (YY/BM)

* Click here to read the full report in Turkish.

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.