113 children tortured in Turkish prisons or in custody in 2014: NGO

ISTANBUL

Forty-nine children have been subjected to torture in Turkish prisons in 2014, while another 64 have been tortured in police custody, a leading Turkish human rights NGO stated in a report released to mark World Children’s Day on Nov. 20.

The Human Rights Association (İHD) stressed that the figures only represent cases reported to activists and that many victims are hesitant to denounce officials for fear of facing retribution.

So far in 2014, some 360 children have been detained during public incidents or demonstrations, 59 have been arrested and 42 have suffered injury, the report said.

“Children are the utmost victims in terms of human rights violations,” the İHD report said.

The İHD criticized the Justice Ministry for remaining silent in cases of violence and sexual abuse against children in prisons, and called for the release of all child convicts.  

The report also drew a bleak picture of the grave social conditions for children, particularly emphasizing the lack of state action against child labor and child marriages.

It also emphasized that children have a right to be part of the decision-making process regarding issues that concern them.