VersionsTurkey: the Situation of Kurdish Children [English, London, 2004]
The Situation of Kurdish Children in Turkey [English, London, 2010]
Turkey: the Situation of Kurdish Children
KHRP is an independent, non-political human rights organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons in the Kurdish regions, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, gender or other belief or opinion. With respect to Turkey, the protection legislation affords to some groups is not meted out to others. This report has been prepared to assess the situation of a group vulnerable on two accounts: children marginalised due to their Kurdish identity.
The failure adequately to protect Kurdish children, both in legislation and in its implementation, creates a need for both the Turkish government and the international community to take action. Despite Turkey’s ratification of international conventions concerning children and its attempts to harmonise domestic legislation with EU standards, Kurdish children disproportionately face the threat and actualisation of a general disregard for their wellbeing and their inalienable rights.
Kurdish children in general, especially displaced children, suffer inadequate provision of the most basic needs, namely, the suitable provision of housing, health care, basic nutrition, and actual access to education. Vast poverty and the consequences of forced displacement determine the daily environment for many Kurdish children, exposing them to numerous high-risk diseases, limiting their ability to attend school, providing them with less then adequate nutrition, and shelter. In addition, many children are forced into the labour force on the streets or elsewhere and are thus exposed to an array of dangerous environments. Many Kurdish children are believed to suffer from emotional stress and depression. Kurdish children, detained by police, have been subjected to torture or illtreatment, including sexual torture and psychological abuse... Table of Contents
Foreword / 5
I. Introduction / 7
1.1 History / 7
1.2 Present / 9
1.3 Economic Overview / 11
II. International Legal Obligations / 15
2.1 United Nations Conventions / 17
III. Situation of Kurdish Children in Turkey / 19
3.1 Discrimination / 20
3.2 Housing / 28
3.3 Nutrition and Health / 32
3.4 Education / 35
3.5 Child Labour / 36
3.6 Street Children / 38
3.7 Juvenile Justice / 40
IV. Conclusion / 45
Appendix 1- Conventions Signed, Ratified or Acceded to by Turkey / 47
Endnotes / 49 Children require special protections against abuses and to protect their fundamental rights, recognised by various international instruments including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Assuredly, adequate child protection is a challenge in all countries; however, it is significantly important that protection and encouragement of children’s rights occurs at all levels, for they are one of the most vulnerable segments of society. Turkey also faces challenges concerning child protection, specifically relating to economic impoverishment, failings in the legal process, discrimination, and issues relating to housing, nutrition, health, education, child labour, street children, juvenile justice and torture or ill-treatment.
Within the framework of necessary protection for all children, this report looks specifically at the situation of Kurdish children in Turkey. In this context the issues to be considered are the systemic factors that impact children and the implementation of service and protection. It is of critical importance that concerns about the welfare of Kurdish children are brought to and remain in the attention of the international community. Though many children in Turkey need continued protection, Kurdish children, partially due to the armed conflict and to continuing stigma and discrimination are believed to suffer disproportionately. Finally, it should be noted that due to the nature of the Kurdish situation in Turkey (particularly mass internal displacement) and Turkish authorities’ policies, accurate information concerning Kurdish children is extremely difficult to obtain. This report has attempted to integrate KHRP information with an accumulation of information gathered from a wide base of international and national human rights bodies. Turkey: the Situation of Kurdish Children
Kurdish Human Rights Project
2 New Burlington Place
London W1S 2HP
Tel: +44 20 7287 2772
Fax: +44 20 7734 4927
Email: khrp@khrp.demon.co.uk
The Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) is an independent, non-political, non-governmental human rights organisation founded and based in London, England. KHRP is a registered charity and is committed to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons living with the Kurdish regions, irrespective of race, religion, sex, political persuasion or other belief or opinion. Its supporters include both Kurdish and non-Kurdish people.
Printed in Great Britain
October 2004
Published by the Kurdish Human Rights Project
ISBN 1 900175 77 0
All rights reserved
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