Worrying picture in the Presidential Annual Program

According to data in the Presidential Annual Program, the number of children at risk has shown a frightening increase over the last four years, rising 4.5 times. This number, which was 76 thousand 800 in 2021, rose to 337 thousand 18 in 2024. The number of children forced to work, or made to peddle or beg on the streets, has exceeded 50 thousand in the last five years.

According to the report by Eylül Barut from Cumhuriyet; the 2025 Presidential Annual Program, which entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette, mentions the 'Children are Safe' teams established to monitor children in different risk groups, primarily those under protection and care, as well as their families.

These teams provide identification, assessment, and guidance services for children and their families who are considered to be in different risk groups in rural areas. According to the data in the program, 34 thousand 868 children were interviewed during 7 thousand 563 village visits in 51 provinces in the first six months of 2024. The program stated, "The number of children who received social service intervention through the 'Children are Safe' teams has reached 337 thousand 18." Former Minister of Family and Social Services Derya Yanık had stated in 2021 regarding the children reached by these teams, "We are monitoring 76 thousand 800 of our children at risk."

CHILDREN AND MARRIAGES

On the other hand, regarding the mobile child protection teams created to protect children forced to work or made to peddle or beg on the streets, the statement was used: "According to August 2024 data, the number of children intervened with in the last five years has been 50 thousand 293 (19.5 thousand of whom are Syrian)."

In the program, which also touched upon child labor, it was noted that in 2023, the labor force participation rate in the 15-17 age group by gender showed a significant increase compared to the previous year, at 32.2 percent for boys, 11.5 percent for girls, and 22.1 percent in total. The report stated, "It is observed that in 2023, among official marriages, 10 thousand 471 girls and 706 boys in the 16-17 age group were married." The report also explained with data that child marriages have shown a decrease compared to previous years. Similarly, it was emphasized that there is a decrease in the number of children dragged into crime compared to previous years.

Cumhuriyet