Celebrated as "National Sovereignty and Children's Day", 23 April is a day to remember the reality of children in Turkey. Deprived of even the most basic rights such as nutrition, shelter, health and education, children greet 23 April this year with violations of their rights.

 

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the number of children in the total population is approximately 22 million by the end of 2024. 10 million of them are poor. The number of registered "child labourers" is 1 million 474 thousand, while the number of unregistered children is approximately 3 and a half million. 

 

In 2024 alone, 9,354 girls aged 16-17 were married off.  7 thousand children were subjected to rape. According to the data of the Association for Civil Society in the Penal Execution System (CISST), the number of children in detention between the ages of 12-18 is 4,011, 173 of whom are girls.  The number of children between the ages of 0-6 imprisoned with their mothers is 759.

 

According to the data of Idea and Art Workshop Association (FİSA), at least 777 children lost their lives due to preventable causes in 2024. Of these, 61 were the result of violations of the right to life by the state. 716 of them lost their lives as a result of "state negligence". According to the same data, at least 78 children lost their lives in places where they were employed, including Vocational Training Centres (MESEM). 

 

According to TurkStat, one out of every four children was employed as a labourer in 2024. According to the data of the Worker Health and Work Safety Assembly (ISIG), at least 742 children have lost their lives in the last two years and 9 children in the first 2 months of 2025. According to the 2024 Education Monitoring Report of the Education Reform Initiative (ERI); approximately 612 thousand 814 children of compulsory education age remained out of education. In addition, a total of 242 thousand 360 refugee and migrant children were left out of education in 2024.

 

We talked to Sedanur Ugur, a member of Her Yer Çocuk Association, about the situation of children in the country on 23 April. Stressing that there is no day to celebrate for children, Sedanur Ugur said that Turkey has turned into "hell" for children. Sedanur Uğur stated that they woke up with many agendas, from children who died because they were not vaccinated to children who died while working. 

 

"Deaths and violations of children's rights are increasing day by day. In an environment where children are dying, of course a celebration cannot be mentioned. Just like on 20 November, there is no celebration on 23 April. As long as these policies of the government and capital continue, children die and rights violations continue. If we change these and a policy in favour of children is produced, we will only be able to talk about children's healthy living or children's right to play," she said. 

 

CHILDREN DRAGGED INTO CRIME

 

 

Sedanur Ugur pointed out that every child who is dragged into crime is the result of existing policies and said, "We have recently seen a child killed by two of their peers. However, every child dragged into crime is a result. As child rights defenders, we always defend this. There is no child who commits a crime, there is a child who is dragged into crime. Children have nothing to do in terms of self-development. However, they have to work and earn money quickly. That is why gangs are formed or children can sell drugs. In addition, unqualified education and poverty are other factors pushing children to crime. In order for a child to go to school, they need to pay registration fees and buy school clothes. Families who cannot meet these needs cannot send their children to school or push them to earn their own money. This happens either by working or by being dragged into crimes where they can earn quick money on the streets. The fact that education is unqualified and that children cannot acquire a profession after studying pushes children to acquire a profession."

 

UNSEEN AND UNHEARD REFUGEES

 

Stating that economic class determines the lives of children, Sedanur Ugur said that children living in disadvantaged classes are forced to work at a young age. Sedanur Uğur reminded that children are not allowed to work in Turkey according to the Constitution and pointed to the children who lose their lives in labour murders. Sedanur Uğur added: "On 23 April, we see children of all races holding hands around the world. But unfortunately we cannot talk about such a situation. Many migrant children in Turkey are not seen because they are unregistered. These children cannot access any rights, they are completely unseen and unheard. Children are born in an incredibly dark world during wars. Since children in the Middle East face the risk of death at any moment, we cannot talk about the rights of children there." 

 

Sedanur Ugur called for a united struggle to prevent the violation of children's rights and emphasised that children should have a say in every environment they are in.

 

MA / Ugurcan Boztas