20.11.2025 00:43
A Parliamentary Research Commission was established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to examine all aspects of the factors leading to juvenile delinquency and to develop protective and preventive mechanisms, with the aim of determining the necessary actions to ensure children's active participation in social life.
A critical decision was made in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). The proposal accepted in the General Assembly combined the motions for the establishment of a Parliamentary Research to examine all dimensions of the reasons leading to children's involvement in crime, to develop protective and preventive mechanisms, and to determine what needs to be done to ensure children's effective participation in social life.
"THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION IS MANDATORY"
MHP Gümüşhane Deputy Musa Küçük emphasized that they see the protection of children not only as a social policy issue but as a strategic matter concerning the survival of the state and the future of the nation.
Pointing out that the Constitution assigns the duty of protecting children to the state, Küçük stated, "Under this roof of the Parliament, regardless of our political views, we must act with the same sensitivity when it comes to children."
Küçük stressed that the issue of children involved in crime should not be viewed solely from a security perspective, stating, "If a child has been led to crime, it means there are neglects and deficiencies in many areas from education to social services, from family to the environment. We must see the child not as the perpetrator of the crime but often as the victim, and we need to develop protective and restorative mechanisms rather than just punishment. For all these reasons, it is mandatory to establish a Parliamentary Research Commission to comprehensively address the problems faced by children and the existing policies."
"I HOPE THE OUTCOMES OF THIS COMMISSION WILL BE HOMEWORK FOR EACH OF US"
DEM Party Mardin Deputy Beritan Güneş Altın referred to serious discussions about "new generation gang formation" in the world.
Describing her party's work related to children, Altın noted that they submitted a proposal to the Parliament to make progress on this issue through a common consensus.
Altın stated, "For this reason, we need to express that this joint proposal, which has come to the Parliament with the consensus of all parties, is very valuable and precious. The issue we are discussing is one that affects the present and future of children and the future of the entire society, and I hope that this commission will serve this purpose. On behalf of my party, I want to state that we will support all efforts that will serve the best interests of children with historical and political responsibility."
"A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IS AT HAND"
CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir emphasized the need to re-discuss this area with an understanding that prioritizes children involved in crime, their rehabilitation, and their reintegration into society, and to ensure that necessary steps are taken urgently.
Stating that poverty lies beneath the mechanisms that lead children to crime and increase "juvenile delinquency," Emir said, "As poverty increases and the education level of parents decreases, you see that juvenile delinquency and the rate of children involved in crime also increase. Unfortunately, in today's Turkey, where poverty is increasingly rising, there are also significant increases in the rates of children involved in crime."
Emir pointed out the need to abandon the mindset of "We will increase penalties, and that will solve the problem," and used the following expressions: "If we are to address these root problems one by one and truly tackle these issues, it can only gain meaning. Otherwise, if we look at one side and increase penalties from the other while neglecting the sociological, economic, political, and psychological aspects of the issue, we will again be fighting in the dark. I believe that establishing this commission is correct and necessary, but I hope it will work as it should, and that the outcomes of this commission will be homework for each of us."
"I HOPE OUR WORK WILL LEAD TO THIS"
AK Party Kahramanmaraş Deputy Tuba Köksal drew attention to the fact that national sovereignty is directly related to children.
Since the first day they came to power, Köksal stated that all their efforts have been directed towards ensuring that the country's children receive education under better conditions, benefit from health services, and live a life based on rights and guaranteed by the state, and she explained the work done in this context.
Köksal noted that today, with the changing digital world, they witness children's victimization more frequently in these environments, while on the other hand, they also observe communication channels that encourage or normalize crime, abuse, and violence against children.
PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMISSION ACCEPTED
After the discussions in the General Assembly, the proposal to establish a Parliamentary Research Commission to examine all dimensions of the reasons leading to children's involvement in crime, to develop protective and preventive mechanisms, and to determine what needs to be done to ensure children's effective participation in social life was accepted.
The commission, consisting of 22 members, will have a working period of 3 months and may work outside Ankara if necessary. The members of the commission will be determined later.