The AKP government insists to pass legal regulations about child abuse, which sparked outrage in the country.  Data on child abuse in Turkey is obvious; Turkey ranks first in Europe. Moreover, child abuse cases have been increasing all around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Amnesty for abusers” regulation means legitimizing sexual abuse. AKP government shows “victim families” to defend the amnesty but it will once again be responsible for what thousands of children have faced. Women’s organizations, NGOs, and activists have announced that they will not allow the legal regulation to be passed. The AKP’s war against women to create “acceptable women” continues against children!

SARYA DENIZ

News Center - The cases of child abuse have been increasing every day in Turkey. Moreover, it has become difficult, even impossible, to know what is happening behind closed doors due to Covid-19 lockdowns imposed in all countries.  Under these circumstances, the cases shown in the statistics seem to be decreased. But the truth is far above the statistics. This is not just a comment; all international organizations say this. Even the UN warns countries and calls for immediate action to be taken about this issue.

Why does the AKP insist?

Experts state that houses may be as dangerous as the outside and they warn that children have faced a more global danger. Especially during this process, girls are the first to be “sacrificed” and they have faced the threat of “child marriage”. However, the proposed legal regulations about children in Turkey don’t protect children and they leave children in endless darkness. Recently, the AKP government has tried to pass a bill that would provide an amnesty for men convicted of statutory rape, provided that they marry their victim despite many criticisms. Why does the AKP insist on passing this bill while women and children organizations, MPs, activists, and civilians say “No” to this bill?

Demanding concrete evidence increases traumas

On May 30, 2019, Turkey’s President and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the “Judicial Reform Strategy” and the works on the fourth judicial package were brought to the agenda of the Turkish parliament. The judicial package demands “concrete evidence” for crimes in the catalog. Child abuse is included in this catalog. How can children “prove” that they are sexually abused with “concrete evidence” while they hardly describe harassment, sexual abuse, and assault? Experts emphasize that demanding concrete evidence in child abuse cases will increase rights violations and traumas.

Children talked about what they had faced but it wasn’t enough

Before the regulations enter into force, courts have begun to demand concrete evidence in some cases. C.G. was sexually abused by her teacher 10 years ago. Izmir 1^st High Criminal Court acquitted the teacher named M.E. for lack of concrete evidence despite the statements of witnesses. The child talked about what she had faced but the man wasn’t held in prison even for a day.

Another abuser T.A. was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing his 10-year-old niece in Istanbul in April but he was acquitted of sexually abusing his four-year-old child. The reason for the acquittal was the lack of concrete evidence.

The acquittal of the perpetrator of sexual abuse!

In Istanbul, a man named Özcan B. was accused of sexually abusing the 11-year-old daughter of his brother-in-law. A lawsuit was opened against Özcan B. Özcan B. was acquitted from all accusations by the 10^th Criminal Court of Bakırköy Courthouse on May 26. The reason for his acquittal was the lack of concrete evidence.

Rates are frightening

Even the statistics released by the Ministry of Justice in Turkey is frightening. Child abuse cases increased by 29 percent between 2012 and 2019. This rate is only the number of lawsuits. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of child abuse cases was 17,589 in 2012, the number increased to 22,689 in 2019. According to the 2020 report released by Association for Combating Child Abuse and Negligence (Çocuk İstismarı ve İhmali ile Mücadele Derneği), child abuse increased by 67.9 percent between 2014 and 2017. According to Bianet, men sexually abused 265 children in 2020. 65 children were sexually abused by men in the first five months of 2021.

Turkey ranks first in Europe

Turkey ranks first in Europe for child marriage. According to official data, 13,651 lawsuits were filed in 2018 to take permission to marry at the age of 16. 482,000 girls were married off between 2010 and 2020. 441,000 children have given birth since 2002. The number of people being tried for sexually abusing children between 2006 and 2017 is 159.263! According to UN Children's Fund, if efforts are not accelerated, more than 150 million girls will marry before their eighteenth birthday by 2030.