Children in a society of violence!

“Surely, nothing worse than this can happen!” As we are shaken by unimaginable news of brutality every day, we, as people with a conscience, are “not doing well at all”! We are not well because we are not safe; we are not well because our minds cannot comprehend what is happening; we are not well because we are worried for both ourselves and our loved ones…

We are not well because a two-year-old girl was subjected to every form of psychological, physical, and sexual violence by her drug-addicted mother, her drug-addicted stepfather, and the neighbor's children to whom she was entrusted—who were likely also drug-addicted—and lost her life after spending a long time in intensive care.

We are not well because a few days ago, in the middle of Istanbul, two young women were murdered within hours of each other by a deviant individual who allegedly had psychological problems and various addictions.

We are not well because a few days ago in Istanbul, a woman was harassed in the middle of the street by two drunk addicts and was almost raped.

We are not well because a few days ago, one of our female police officers was martyred in Istanbul by a crime machine who was also a drug addict.

We are not well because just a few weeks ago, an eight-year-old girl first went missing, then her body was found, and the perpetrators were her own family and relatives.

We are not well because we are faced with an incident of violence every single day.

We are not well because there is violence on the street, in traffic, at the workplace, at school, in the hospital, at restaurants, on public transport, in sports, between spouses, and even in the places where we should be safest—inside our own homes. And it is so intense!

Unfortunately, we have now become a “society of violence.” We have become a society that is intolerant, angry, prone to violence, and that views kindness and courtesy as weakness; a society that resolves everything with brute force, shouts and screams, speaks loudly, curses, hurls threats, and respects those who behave this way.

We are all harmed by this society of violence, but children, of course, suffer the most. Children growing up in an environment of violence learn, normalize, and internalize violence, and over time, they apply it to others. Research shows that children who are exposed to violence are more likely to experience both psychological and physical health problems later in life.

Protecting children is essential for a healthy society. In the fight against violence, we must not forget our individual and social responsibilities; we must act together to provide children with a healthy, safe, and loving environment.

It is possible to reverse the phenomenon of a “society of violence” through education, awareness, and legal safeguards. It may take some time and require great dedication, but let us not forget: The future of children is in our hands! As we protect our children, we will move away from violence, and as we move away from violence, we will achieve social well-being!