Turkish Parliament advances Child Protection Law reforms
The Turkish Grand National Assembly is processing a significant legal reform through the Child Protection Law amendment. The legislation introduces stricter penalties and revised sentencing structures for juvenile offenders.
Key changes include new criminal liability for individuals who negligently store firearms or knives, allowing children to access them, with potential prison terms of one to three years. For minors, the law distinguishes between those aged 12-15 and 15-18. For the 12-15 age group, criminal responsibility depends on the capacity to understand the legal consequences of their actions. For the 15-18 age group, the law increases maximum prison terms for severe crimes, such as murder and aggravated injury.
Additionally, the amendment increases penalties for violations of family-law duties, such as failure to provide care or education and abandoning a pregnant partner. To prevent exploitation by criminal organizations, the reform also modifies the execution of sentences, requiring child offenders to begin their terms in closed correctional facilities before potentially transferring to education centers based on behavior and assessment.
Entities: Ateşli Silahlar ve Bıçaklar ile Diğer Aletler Hakkında Kanun · Ceza ve Güvenlik Tedbirlerinin İnfazı Hakkında Kanun · Child Protection Law · Child Protection Law (Turkey) · Child Protection Law and Amendments proposal · Cüneyt Yüksel · Deniz Yücel · Müzeyyen Şevkin · Republic of Türkiye · Turkey Grand National Assembly (TBMM) · Turkish Grand National Assembly · Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Penalties for violations of family‑law duties, such as abandoning a pregnant partner or endangering a child's health, are increased to up to two years’ imprisonment. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 9 SOURCES] For children aged 12‑15, criminal liability is excluded if they cannot understand the legal meaning of their actions; otherwise, imprisonment of 10‑12 years for murder‑type offences and 13‑18 years. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Child offenders’ sentences will start in closed correctional facilities, with possible transfer to education centres after assessment. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The amendment removes age‑reduction provisions for aggravated injury and intentional killing when committed by 15‑18‑year‑olds. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved the first two articles of the Child Protection Law amendment, introducing a new offence for negligent firearm or knife storage that leads to child access. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 9 SOURCES] For youths aged 15‑18, imprisonment ranges from 15‑18 years for murder and 19‑27 years for aggravated offences, with reduced ratios for lesser crimes. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Negligent storage of firearms or knives that enables a child to obtain them is punishable by one to three years’ imprisonment if the act does not constitute a separate, more serious crime. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The amendment bans the sale and display of knives to persons under 18 years of age. (Turkish Grand National Assembly)