Turkey's parliament receives child‑protection law proposal

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has submitted an 18‑article draft law titled “Child Protection Law and Amendments to Several Laws” to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). The bill proposes changes in seven statutes and introduces new protective and corrective measures for minors who commit crimes. Key provisions include raising the upper limits of imprisonment for 12‑18‑year‑olds, removing any sentencing reductions for 15‑18‑year‑olds who commit homicide or aggravated injury, and allowing a court‑discretionary life‑sentence or aggravated life‑sentence for that age group. The draft also lowers the age at which recidivism rules apply from 18 to 15, imposes harsher penalties on adults who negligently store firearms that children can access, bans the sale of knives and other dangerous tools to persons under 18, and increases parental liability for serious offences. Additional “guidance measures” such as digital‑risk monitoring, compulsory social‑service programmes, environmental clean‑up duties and addiction‑treatment support are introduced. The proposal was presented by AK Party deputy Leyla Şahin Usta and welcomed by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş. It will be examined by TBMM committees in the coming weeks, while several civil‑society organisations have voiced opposition, arguing that harsher punishments do not address the root causes of juvenile delinquency.