Newsroom
Child abuse in the occupied territories has skyrocketed over the past decade, rising 900%, while the number of children drawn into crime has climbed 170% over the last five years, a lawyer and children’s rights advocate said Thursday.
Asli Murat, a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), made the remarks on World Children’s Rights Day, calling for immediate action to protect young people from systematic violations of their rights.
“Defending children’s rights is an obligation we must fight for every day,” Murat said, highlighting widespread problems including unsafe schools, limited access to justice for victims of sexual abuse, poverty, poor nutrition, and the criminalization of children who run afoul of the law.
Murat urged the swift implementation of the “child monitoring center” law and called for child-friendly structures in the police, prosecutor’s offices, and courts to prevent secondary trauma during legal proceedings. She also emphasized the need for legal aid for children involved in crime, stronger social services, and independent school and community mechanisms to protect children from violence and abuse.
The Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTOS) echoed the warning, criticizing the government and Ministry of Education for failing to invest in public education. Teachers highlighted crumbling school buildings, lessons held in temporary containers, and schoolyards converted into construction sites, all of which disrupt learning.
KTOS also noted the challenges of increasingly diverse classrooms, including students with special needs and children speaking foreign languages, leaving teachers isolated and unsupported. The union said protecting children’s education, safety, and equality is not just a responsibility; it is essential to safeguard their fundamental rights.
