Turkey’s tougher punishment of juvenile offenders has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations, with the UN rights chief warning that the new measures could expose children to long prison terms and weaken the focus on rehabilitation.
Turkey’s parliament last week approved amendments to the Child Protection Law that require child offenders to be placed in closed juvenile institutions. Their transfer to education-based institutions will only be considered after an assessment, marking a shift from the current system where children are directly held in institutions focused on rehabilitation and education.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "alarmed" by the changes, warning that while some parts of the amendments could improve child protection, other provisions raise serious concerns over the treatment of children in conflict with the law.
"While some of the proposals may be positive --- such as those that aim to ensure better coordination between child protection and education services and to prevent children from accessing firearms -- others raise serious human rights concerns," he said.
Turk called on Turkey to review the new provisions and ensure they meet the country's obligations under international human rights law, particularly those covering children's rights.
"It is essential that the law is amended to ensure that all of its provisions are fully aligned with Turkey's international human rights law obligations, including on children's rights."
The amendments increase the possible prison terms for offenders aged between 12 and 18, with the toughest penalties applying to older children accused of serious crimes.
Under the new measures, children aged 15 to 18 accused of offences that carry aggravated life imprisonment, including intentional killing, could receive prison sentences ranging from 19 to 27 years.
For offences that carry life imprisonment, children in the same age group could face between 15 and 18 years in prison.
The changes have raised concern because they move away from the current approach, which places greater emphasis on education and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders.
Turk's office said the juvenile justice system should seek to hold children accountable while also helping them change their behaviour and return to society.
It stressed that international human rights law allows children to be imprisoned only as a last resort and for the shortest suitable period.
The UN rights office further warned that imposing life sentences or keeping children in detention for long periods is inconsistent with protections provided under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The amendments come as Turkey seeks to reshape how young offenders are handled, but the UN has urged the country to ensure the new system does not place punishment ahead of rehabilitation and the rights of children.