MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed - Child sexual abuse is a widespread problem not only in Turkey but also all around the world. According to the 2018 report of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Turkey ranked third in child sexual abuse cases worldwide. In the Kurdish region, the number of child sexual abuse cases in schools, mosques, and public institutions has been increasing in recent years. In the last week, press outlets have reported many child sexual abuse cases in many cities and districts such as Siirt, Hakkari, Cizre, and Dicle. While the perpetrators of the child sexual abuse cases were village guards, teachers, sergeants, public officers, and family members such as father, uncle, and cousin, the perpetrators were gone unpunished due to the policy of immunity and this situation reveals that what has been happening in the region is not a coincidence.

“The current policies increase violence”

Emine Akşahin, the co-chair of Eğitim-Sen Diyarbakır No. 1 Branch, commented on the reasons for the increase in child sexual abuse cases in schools and outside of schools and the steps should be taken to prevent them. Indicating that the biggest reason for such incidents against women and children is the government's policies that usurp the rights, Emine Akşahin, stated that the government has been carrying out policies in accordance with the perspective of religious sects and communities. “The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention by the president, the sexist language being used in every part of life, the roles of women and children in society are the reasons for the increase of violence against women and children. The policy of immunity of the AKP-MHP coalition also causes the increase of violence against women and children.”

“Perpetrators are protected by the policy of immunity”

Emphasizing that the policy of immunity also causes the increase of sexual abuse cases and violence, Emine Akşahin said, “The teachers, who sexually abuse students, are not dismissed; they are awarded by being sent to other schools. Releasing the perpetrators of child sexual abuse causes the increase of child sexual abuse cases. Turkey bans press outlets reporting on child abuse cases to prevent public opinion from following the cases. Such bans protected the perpetrators of child sexual abuse cases. Perpetrators are protected by the policy of immunity.”

“The picture in the causes both sadness and shock in society,” Emine Akşahin said, recalling that the government is responsible for ensuring the right to life for women and children. “We are aware of everything. The status of people is considered more important than the victims. We cannot follow the cases due to the bans on the cases. Therefore, we cannot support the victims and their families. We have received reports on child sexual abuses cases from schools in the region. Keeping the identities of perpetrators of child sexual abuse and the policy of immunity allow the perpetrators to walk freely among the people and they pose threat to other children and women. Their identities should not be kept confidential to protect other children and women.”