ÇYDD prepares a striking report on children's rights

The Association for Supporting Contemporary Living (ÇYDD) prepared a striking report on the current situation of children living in Turkey on November 20, World Children's Rights Day. The report, which states that more than 10 thousand girls between the ages of 16 and 17 were married through official civil ceremonies in 2022, also emphasizes that 45.2 percent of children in Turkey are at risk of social exclusion and poverty.

The Association for Supporting Contemporary Living shared a striking report with the public on November 20, World Children's Rights Day, regarding the current situation of children living in Turkey. The report, which aims to raise awareness about children's rights, revealed the challenges and needs faced by children in the country. In the report prepared by Hasan Kızıldağ, Focal Point of the ÇYDD Child Safety Unit, the difficulties faced by children belonging to vulnerable groups living in various parts of Turkey regarding their rights to education, health, safety, and participation were analyzed in detail.

ANXIOUS EVEN IF WELL-PREPARED FOR THE EXAM

The report, which allows for a multidimensional examination of what it means to be a child in Turkey, presents remarkable results regarding the lives and needs of children, and once again reveals that the education system—particularly early childhood and preschool education, as well as compulsory primary education and dropouts from formal education—needs to be seriously reconsidered.

The data in the report, which states that 50.5% of children in the 13-17 age group feel anxious even if they are well-prepared for an exam, clearly expresses the students' lack of confidence in the education system and invites authorities to take action. The report also emphasized that 45.2 percent of children in Turkey are at risk of social exclusion and poverty.

MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND GIRLS WERE OFFICIALLY MARRIED

In the report prepared on the current situation of children in the 100th year of the Republic, other notable topics besides inequalities in the education system included child labor, physical and psychological violence against children, child abuse, and child marriages. The statements in the report regarding the fact that more than 10 thousand girls were officially married in 2022 revealed one of the most striking findings of the report. In addition, the difficulties experienced by refugee children and the economic hardships children faced during the earthquake and pandemic processes stood out as other important topics of the report.

THOSE UNDER 16 ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DATA

The report made the following findings regarding child marriages:

* The current situation, which leads children to feel that their rights are not respected, is actually confirmed by certain statistics provided by TUIK. In 2022, official marriages of girls in the 16-17 age group were 2% (TUIK, 2022). This rate appears low, but the way the data is presented is an attempt to cover up the truth: '2 percent' means more than ten thousand child marriages, and this number only refers to the official marriages of girls aged 16 and 17. In other words, since girls under the age of 16 cannot be married according to the law, child marriages under the age of 16 are considered zero, and unofficial marriages of those aged 16-17 are not included in this number.

THE NUMBER OF MARRIAGES OF THOSE UNDER 18 IS 10 THOUSAND 237

* On the other hand, as a result of the examinations, the number of marriages of those under 18 whose age was increased by court order between 2002 and 2013 is 10,237. While 362 of this number are boys, 9 thousand 875 are girls. Girls are married by having their age increased 27 times more often than boys. Perhaps more important than the perspective of individuals regarding child marriages is the way the state handles the issue.

MORE THAN 13 THOUSAND MARRIAGE PERMIT CASES

* When the Child Marriages Report published by the Association for the Prevention of Violence and Rehabilitation (IMDAT) in 2021 is examined, it is seen that the number of cases filed in family courts for marriage permits for 16-year-old children is 13,282, and 11,473 (86%) of these cases were accepted (IMDAT, 2021).

* It was mentioned that the number of girls married by having their age increased by court order was 27 times higher than that of boys. While the violation of the rights of tens of thousands of children does not find a place in social perception, which gender the type of abuse will match seems, unfortunately, to be linked to certain parts of social understanding.

“TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE WITH SECULAR, SCIENTIFIC, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION…”

In the statement made by ÇYDD regarding World Children's Rights Day, it was emphasized that on April 23, 1921, exactly 68 years before November 20, 1989, when the World Children's Rights Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who described children as “the stars and the light of the future,” gifted April 23 to children as a holiday. It was stated that in the 100th year of our Republic, efforts will continue to support children to grow up in a healthy and safe environment and to ensure they are prepared for the future with secular, scientific, and public education.

The statement also expressed the necessity for all countries that have signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to take the necessary measures to stop wars and implement children's rights, starting with the children's right to life, and for non-governmental organizations working for children to be in cooperation.

News Source: 12punto