At least 892 children lost their lives in Turkey in 2025

The FISA Child Rights Center has published its 2025 report on the "Right to Life of the Child in Turkey." According to the report, at least 892 children lost their lives due to preventable causes in 2025.

The report consists of violations of the right to life resulting in death that occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2025, compiled through media monitoring, local sources, and the scanning of data from human rights organizations.

"THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILD DEATHS OCCURRED IN URFA"

It was reported that of the 892 children who lost their lives, 599 were boys and 251 were girls, while gender information could not be obtained for 42 children. The provinces with the highest number of deaths were recorded as Şanlıurfa (74), Istanbul (57), Bolu (40), Gaziantep (38), and Konya (38), respectively. These provinces were followed by Adana (27), Hatay (27), Diyarbakır (28), Kocaeli (28), and Mersin (25).

The report stated that at least 103 children lost their lives as a result of incidents occurring in public institutions or due to the negligence of public officials.

"AT LEAST 95 CHILD WORKERS DIED WHILE WORKING"

Data on child labor-related deaths in 2025 revealed the extent of child labor exploitation in our country. These deaths include children employed under the status of "students" within the scope of Vocational Training Centers (MESEM). Şerafettin Başarır (15), Arda Dirmilli (15), Yağız Yıldız (17), Alperen Uygun (16), and Muhammed Kendirci (15) lost their lives in 2025 within the scope of MESEM.

"33 CHILDREN DIED BY SUICIDE"

According to 2025 data, at least 33 children lost their lives due to suicide. While this number was 53 in 2024, it was recorded as 20 children in 2023. The report stated, "Common rights violations experienced by children, difficulties in accessing services; poverty, isolation, violence, exclusion, and insecurity are among the fundamental factors in the background of these losses. Furthermore, the inadequacy of preventive, inclusive, and accessible policies aimed at protecting children's mental health is also evaluated as another significant factor in the emergence of this result."

"INDIVIDUAL ARMAMENT CAUSED THE DEATH OF 18 CHILDREN"

In 2025, at least 18 children lost their lives as a result of individual armament. According to the report published by FISA, these deaths occurred in various ways, such as playing with guns found at home, firing into the air at weddings, being hit by "stray bullets," or instantaneous conflicts. The report stated, "The prevention of individual armament is not just a security issue; it must be addressed as an urgent and fundamental obligation to protect the right to life of children."

"VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN HAS INCREASED"

The 2025 data revealed that violence against children in our country is increasing day by day. Of the children who lost their lives as a result of violence, 21 died due to peer violence, 20 due to domestic violence, 14 due to child murders, and 14 due to gender-based violence.

News Source: 12punto