# Turkey passes major child protection and juvenile justice ré > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkeys-child-online-safety-initiatives > Updated: 2026-08-08T20:38:00.000Z. Sources: 71. Developments: 10. In early June 2026, Turkish officials launched outreach events on child online safety, including seminars, workshops, and the Digital Anafor summit. President Erdoğan later unveiled a national AI Vision, and Turkey signed a protocol with Northern Cyprus for “Safe Internet Service” packages. Parliamentary activity intensified throughout June and July, culminating in the Justice Committee's approval of a sweeping Child Protection Law on 20 July. On 6 August, the Grand National Assembly processed significant amendments to the reform. The legislation introduces stricter sentencing structures for juvenile offenders, distinguishing between those aged 12-15—whose liability depends on their capacity to understand legal consequences—and those aged 15-18, for whom maximum prison terms for severe crimes like murder and aggravated injury will increase. Provisions also include one-to-three-year prison terms for negligent firearm or knife storage and mandate that child offenders begin sentences in closed correctional facilities to prevent exploitation by criminal organizations. On 8 August, the Grand National Assembly passed the legislation, officially reforming the juvenile justice system. Notable changes include replacing the term "child driven to crime" with "child in the judicial process" and adjusting sentencing for the 15-18 age group, where crimes typically warrant aggravated life imprisonment may now result in 19 to 27 years of imprisonment. For children aged 12-15 lacking the capacity to comprehend their actions, security measures will be applied instead of criminal penalties. The law also lowers the recidivism provision age threshold from 18 to 15. Administrative coordination for protective measures will now be managed centrally by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, with regional oversight by governors. ## Claims - The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) has passed a bill to amend the Child Protection Law and other related statutes. (corroborated by 11 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. (corroborated by 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. (corroborated by 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. (corroborated by 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. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The amendment removes age‑reduction provisions for aggravated injury and intentional killing when committed by 15‑18‑year‑olds. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The legal term 'child driven to crime' is replaced with 'child in the judicial process'. (corroborated by 8 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. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Child offenders’ sentences will start in closed correctional facilities, with possible transfer to education centres after assessment. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Ministry of Family and Social Services will coordinate protective and supportive measures at the central level. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-08: Turkey passes amendments to Child Protection Law Turkey's TBMM has passed a law amending Child Protection statutes, introducing new sentencing for 12-18 year olds and legal liabilities for improper firearm storage leading to child access. 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-passes-new-legislation-reforming-juvenile-justice-and-child-protection-laws ### 2026-08-06: Turkish Parliament advances Child Protection Law reforms The Turkish Parliament is advancing a Child Protection Law amendment that increases penalties for negligent weapon storage, revises juvenile sentencing, and strengthens punishments for family-law violations. 34 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-parliament-approves-new-child-protection-law-amendments ### 2026-07-20: Turkish Parliament passes sweeping child protection law reforms Turkey’s parliament approved extensive child‑protection reforms, lowering liability for minors, tightening firearm‑storage rules, and hardening parental penalties, while extending a commission probing school‑vi 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-parliament-probes-istanbul-school-attack-and-safety-reforms ### 2026-06-30: Turkey's Parliament launches commission on school attacks and digital risks Turkey's parliament formed a commission, led by MP Yusuf Beyazıt, to investigate school attacks in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa, linking them to structural issues and rising cyber‑bullying, and urging unified,‑​ 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-parliamentary-commission-addresses-school-attacks-and-digital-risks ### 2026-06-26: Ankara digital violence panel urges media responsibility to curb cyberbullying An Ankara panel on digital violence discussed cyberbullying's rise and urged media to educate and protect youth, featuring experts and North Cyprus media leader Ertan Birinci. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ankara-digital-violence-panel-urges-media-responsibility-to-curb-cyberbullying ### 2026-06-24: Turkish Parliament convenes commission on school safety and digital risks Turkey’s parliament formed a commission chaired by MP Yusuf Beyazıt to examine school violence and digital risks, noting rising child crime, low safety perception among students, and proposing measures such as 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-parliament-convenes-commission-on-school-safety-and-digital-risks ### 2026-06-17: Turkey and Northern Cyprus sign child digital‑safety protocols Turkey and Northern Cyprus officials signed protocols and launched a portal to protect children from digital bullying, addiction and unsafe online content. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cyprus-launches-child-digital-safety-initiative-with-new-protocols-and-portal ### 2026-06-13: Selçuk Bayraktar urges digital sovereignty and warns of AI‑driven tech monopolies at Turkey AI summit Selçuk Bayraktar warned that tech monopolies and AI‑driven addiction threaten freedom, calling for digital sovereignty at Turkey's AI summit. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/seluk-bayraktar-urges-digital-sovereignty-and-warns-of-aidriven-tech-monopolies-at-turkey-ai-summit ### 2026-06-12: Turkey's Digital Anafor Summit in Istanbul Focuses on Screen Addiction and Media Ethics Turkey held a two‑day Digital Anafor summit in Istanbul, led by Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, to tackle screen addiction, data privacy and media ethics, issuing a final report with policy recommendations. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-digital-anafor-summit-tackles-screen-addiction-and-online-safety ### 2026-06-09: Turkish officials hold seminars on child online safety and cognitive security Turkish officials held seminars in Nazilli and Ankara on child online safety, forest‑fire measures and cognitive security, covering social‑media crimes, game ethics and AI‑driven disinformation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-officials-hold-seminars-on-child-online-safety-and-cognitive-security --- Cite as: Turkey passes major child protection and juvenile justice ré. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkeys-child-online-safety-initiatives