[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey passes major child protection and juvenile justice ré

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-08 21:31 UTC → 2026-08-08 22:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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 ~~warranting~~ 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.

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