Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services is embarking on a novel series of publication in order to share the services it renders in the field of children in detail with public. The initial publication of the series was concerned with the Ministry’s institutional approach on child neglect and abuse.
The topics “A Historical Overview of Child Protection Services in Turkey”, “What Is Child Neglect and Abuse?”, “The Ministry’s Institutional Approach on Protection, Care, Prevention and Rehabilitation Services Concerning Child Neglect and Abuse”, “The Ministry’s Services Concerning Child Neglect and Abuse”, “Special Implementations Concerning Child Neglect and Abuse” are covered in the first booklet of the study which will be published with the title “Series on Children Policies.”
Number of Trainings for Parents Will Be Increased
The booklet is also concerned with policies and measures directly related to combating child neglect and abuse. Within this scope, starting from prenatal period, the number of trainings for parents will be increased and materials with contents on nutrition, growth, education and games targeting parents, which are expedient to age and development levels of children, will be produced. Cultural, artistic, scientific and sports activities supplementing physical, social and cognitive development of children will be incentivized, made widespread and accessible. Endeavours targeting to enhance access to protective and preventive services for children resident in rural areas and to ensure equality in opportunities will be put into place.
Units for Combating Child Labour Will Be Extended to 81 Provinces
Units for combating child labour will be extended to 81 provinces. Units for Combating child Labour will be rendered more effective in order to enhance cooperation and coordination with relevant institutions and organizations working in the field of combating child labour at the local level. Psychological support programs for children at risk will expand and specialization of care services will continue. The quality and quantity of personnel working in the field will be improved. Family-oriented services for children in need of protection will be promoted and made widespread.
Scientific Research Will Be Conducted on Healthy Development of Children
As from early childhood, children will be provided with awareness trainings on neglect, abuse and violence and their life skills will be improved. Scientific research will be conducted on healthy development of children.
Endeavours on the Protection of Children against Digital Risks Will Increase
At schools and social service centres, programs and activities for improving health, nutrition, law and social media literacy of children will be realized. Measures will be taken to protect children against games and digital applications along with contents such as books, social media, which will negatively affect healthy development of children. Endeavours targeting the protection of children against digital risks and detriments of printed and visual media will increase in number.
Children Support Centres (ÇODEM) will be expanded. Child victims of crime and juveniles pushed to crime will be provided with an effective rehabilitation program.
Policies Targeting Children Were Also Covered in the Booklet
In the conclusion part of the booklet, it was emphasized that the policies on children were generated as such: Identifying problems or needs stemming from the child himself/herself, the family and environment before any incident of neglect or abuse against the child by raising public awareness in the field of child protection; meeting these needs or eliminating these problems through collaboration among institutions; establishing early response systems by means of risk maps; organizing informative and solution-generating trainings for families; improving psychosocial support services targeting children.
The Booklet Is Aimed At Contributing to Professional, Academic and Voluntary Activities
The initial publication of Series on Children Policies, which is also concerned with protective-preventive activities of the Ministry concerning child neglect and abuse, trainings and counselling services, family-oriented services, care services and social rehabilitation services, is aimed at contributing to professional, academic and voluntary activities.
Selçuk: “Our duty is securing a healthy and safe environment to raise our children”
In her statements, Minister of family, Labour and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk wrote, “Our primary duty concerning our children is to ensure that they are brought up in a healthy and safe environment. In our Constitution, we are manifestly assigned with this duty for our children, who are inherently unable to protect themselves. We are wholeheartedly assuming this duty, on the purpose that our country will achieve to build a healthy future with healthy generations.” Emphasizing that the protection of children against neglect, abuse and all risks is a multidisciplinary field, Selçuk remarked, “It is obvious that child protection system is a field including not only public institutions, but also all actors of society, non-governmental organizations and singly individuals and the entire society; obligating their close cooperation altogether, tied with close bonds. Within this scope, significant endeavours targeting to raise awareness in children, families and society are in progress, in collaboration with the relevant public institutions and organizations, universities and non-governmental organizations.”
Access to the booklet is via the link below on the web page of the Ministry. (https://ailevecalisma.gov.tr/media/72849/cocuk-politikalari-serisi-1.pdf )