Main opposition CHP seeks inquiry into child abuse, smuggling

ANKARA

Child workers remain as a serious problem in Turkey. File photo. DHA photo

A group of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies have demanded a parliamentary inquiry concerning child labor and child labor smuggling in Turkey.

The CHP called for an inquiry into both the problem of child labor in the country and the problem concerning foreign children who were brought to Turkey, particularly from the former Soviet Union, Africa and Syria, to work illegally. The party also asked for measures to prevent child labor, sexual abuse and smuggling.

The demand was filed at the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office Nov. 20 by CHP deputies led by Istanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

“The Justice Ministry has declared that it opened 78 new child smuggling investigations between January 2012 and September 2012. Additionally, children from the former Soviet Union countries are being smuggled, [subjected to] sexual abuse for commercial motives and [being forced to work],” the motion said.

In its 2013 progress report on Turkey released in October, the European Union also underlined that child labor had not been reduced, with 5.9 percent of children aged 6-17 involved in an economic activity, including street work, or heavy and hazardous work in small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The report also said 28 child workers have recently died in workplace accidents.