content tagged with children

Ukrainian refugee child abuse allegations reach Turkish parliament

Ukrainian refugee child abuse allegations reach Turkish parliament

MPs question whether the Ukrainian charity implicated in the abuse of refugee children was adequately investigated.

4 December 2025

Over 800,000 children in Turkey are out of education, report finds

Over 800,000 children in Turkey are out of education, report finds

Among children aged 15–17, 24.9%, or one in four, are participating in the labor force.

27 November 2025 Nalin Öztekin

Nearly 30,000 lawyers appointed in child abuse cases in İstanbul over five years, report reveals

WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY

Nearly 30,000 lawyers appointed in child abuse cases in İstanbul over five years, report reveals

The İstanbul Bar Association Child Rights Center has released a report detailing how children are involved in the justice system and the areas in which they are represented by lawyers.

20 November 2025 Nalin Öztekin

Child worker dies after physical violence by colleagues in southeastern Turkey

Child worker dies after physical violence by colleagues in southeastern Turkey

One suspect has been formally arrested as an investigatio into the incident is ongoing.

20 November 2025

'Businesses employ two children in place of one adult at same cost'

THREE CHILD WORKERS KILLED IN A WEEK

'Businesses employ two children in place of one adult at same cost'

Recent child worker deaths reflect government policies that push children into low-wage labor to sustain small and mid-sized businesses, argues Kansu Yıldırım from the Health and Safety Labor Watch.

23 October 2025 Nalin Öztekin

Turkey sees rise in school dropouts, union warns

Turkey sees rise in school dropouts, union warns

As expected years of schooling continue to decline and more children fall outside the education system, the government is considering shortening the 12-year compulsory education period.

21 October 2025

Report highlights worsening child poverty, abuse

Report highlights worsening child poverty, abuse

The İstanbul Medical Chamber outlines growing challenges facing children in Turkey, including poverty, malnutrition, abuse, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare and education.

17 October 2025

Arslan Özdemir

The school meal problem in Turkey: Lack of education brought by hunger

The school meal problem in Turkey: Lack of education brought by hunger

A hungry child cannot learn; a child who cannot learn cannot become an equal citizen of the future.

30 September 2025 Arslan Özdemir

Poverty grips Turkey’s children amid policy inaction

Poverty grips Turkey’s children amid policy inaction

About one-third of the children n Turkye live in poverty, significantly higher compared to OECD and European countries.

26 September 2025 Beyza Köz

Tuğçe Yılmaz

'One in four children in Turkey goes to school hungry'

'One in four children in Turkey goes to school hungry'

We spoke with the Sulukule Volunteers Association about their efforts to support equal opportunities in education, the positive effects of providing one free meal at schools on children, and their proposed solutions to address this issue.

5 December 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Two million children in Turkey in ‘absolute poverty’

Two million children in Turkey in ‘absolute poverty’

This figure means that about one in every 10 children in the country lives in a state of absolute poverty, according to a TEPAV study.

15 November 2024

Sexually abused toddler in Turkey’s Tekirdağ dies after weeks in coma

Sexually abused toddler in Turkey’s Tekirdağ dies after weeks in coma

The child’s mother, her partner and two minors are remanded in custody in connection with the incident.

Stunting and obesity on the rise as poverty deepens in Turkey

Stunting and obesity on the rise as poverty deepens in Turkey

In 2020, they said, "There is also a malnutrition problem in Turkey. Stunting, or chronic malnutrition—what we can consider as children being subjected to chronic hunger." In 2024, they no longer acknowledge malnutrition.

28 September 2024 Hacer Foggo

Suspect confesses to dumping Narin Güran's body in creek for money

Suspect confesses to dumping Narin Güran's body in creek for money

The eight-year-old child’s body was found in a creek after she went missing in Diyarbakır on Aug 21.

9 September 2024 Evrim Deniz

Report: At least 343 children died from preventable causes in Turkey in first half of 2024

Report: At least 343 children died from preventable causes in Turkey in first half of 2024

FİSA's report emphasizes that the deaths of these children are not 'natural' and that a child’s natural course should be to grow and develop.

'Two out of every 10 children in Turkey face disabilities'

'Two out of every 10 children in Turkey face disabilities'

The Disabled Children's Rights Network (EÇHA) marked World Disability Rights Day.

4 December 2023

Experts discuss children's well-being amid 'multiple crises'

Experts discuss children's well-being amid 'multiple crises'

Among the topics discussed were the unequal impact of crises on different societal groups and the importance of examining children's well-being within the context of intersecting inequalities.

16 November 2023

Child hit by armored vehicle in Şırnak in intensive care

Child hit by armored vehicle in Şırnak in intensive care

The 12-year-old child was admitted to the hospital after sustaining head trauma. Their condition is improving, doctors have said.

1 September 2023

Nine-year-old girl loses life to electric shock in Kocaeli

Nine-year-old girl loses life to electric shock in Kocaeli

The child was the daughter of a family working as seasonal agricultural workers.

Official figures show increase in criminal incidents involving children in 2022

Official figures show increase in criminal incidents involving children in 2022

Over 200,000 children were involved in delinquency last year, according to TurkStat.

Efforts to prevent child drownings in summer intensify with swimming lessons, free pools

Efforts to prevent child drownings in summer intensify with swimming lessons, free pools

Children are receiving free swimming training from coaches and instructors in existing pools and portable pools set up for that purpose.

Over 80 people, including children, drowned in irrigation canals in 1.5 months

Over 80 people, including children, drowned in irrigation canals in 1.5 months

An oposition MP has cricitized the authorities for lack of precautions after the drowning of three children within a week in the same district in Mersin.

Education minister's statement on opening girls' schools draws backlash from opposition

Education minister's statement on opening girls' schools draws backlash from opposition

The minister said they may open girls' schools as some families don't want their daughters to study with boys.

Top prosecutor challenges acquittal decision in case of 4-year-old's killing

LEYLA AYDEMİR CASE

Top prosecutor challenges acquittal decision in case of 4-year-old's killing

All seven defendants, including the child's uncle who had previously been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, were acquitted in the retrial.

Controversial release of Quran course staff in 'child torture' case in Erzurum

Controversial release of Quran course staff in 'child torture' case in Erzurum

Some parents and children had withdrawn their complaints after facing "social pressure," an association who took up the case for the tortured children said in a statement.

Revealed footage shows how military officer ran over child in Hakkari

Revealed footage shows how military officer ran over child in Hakkari

The 5-year-old child was killed at the scene. The specialist sergeant has not been arrested.

14 June 2023 Nedim Türfent

Five-year-old fatally struck by military vehicle in Hakkari

Five-year-old fatally struck by military vehicle in Hakkari

The sergeant operating the vehicle has reportedly been placed under custody. In the last ten years, at least 22 children in Kurdish-populated areas of the country have lost their lives due to incidents involving military vehicles.

8 June 2023 Nedim Türfent

Three children drown in irrigation canals, one still missing after five days

Three children drown in irrigation canals, one still missing after five days

One of the children was the son of a family of seasonal agricultural workers and two were Syrian refugees.

Police officers accused of torturing child indicted for 'deprivation of liberty'

Police officers accused of torturing child indicted for 'deprivation of liberty'

The indictment has been criticized by lawyers who argue that the prosecutors are trying to let the perpetrators get away with their crimes.

Children's situation remains dire in the wake of the February 6 earthquakes, says report

Children's situation remains dire in the wake of the February 6 earthquakes, says report

A recent report from the women's organization Ekmek ve Gül highlights a lack of access to basic services as well as prevalent cases of abuse against women and children in the crisis region.

Torture of child in Diyarbakır: Lawyers appeal against officers' release

Torture of child in Diyarbakır: Lawyers appeal against officers' release

The officers being charged with injury rather than torture shows that the authorities indent to cover up the officers' crimes, according to the head of the Diyarbakır Bar.

Three police officers arrested for torture of child in Diyarbakır

Three police officers arrested for torture of child in Diyarbakır

A 14-year-old child was hospitalized after being beaten by officers in the Kurdish-majority city.

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