68 children under the age of 18 became parents in north Cyprus in 2023: TRNC Medical Association

According to report by the Turkish Cypriot Medical Association, statistical data revealed that, 68 underage children including 61 girls and 7 boys became parents in north Cyprus in 2023 in a rate of more than one per week, a development that indicate a social collapse and the inadequacy of the state in protecting children.

They wrote that becoming parents before the age of 18 is a “violation” of children’s rights to “grow up healthy, receive an education, and to live in a safe environment” – rights which are enshrined in the Istanbul convention and the United Nations convention on the rights of the child (CRC).

In the statement released on behalf of the Turkish Medical Association's Executive Board by President Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan and Secretary General Dr. Sinem Siğit İkiz this week, it was emphasized that the fact that 68 children became parents before even reaching the age of 18 is an unacceptable violation.

“According to 2023 statistics, the fact that 61 girls and 7 boys became parents is a clear indication of a major societal collapse and the state's inadequacy in protecting children,” the Turkish Medical Association stated.

The statement reminded that while the Istanbul Convention imposes specific obligations on states to prevent violence against children and protect victims, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) guarantees every child the right to grow up healthily, receive an education, be protected, and live in a safe environment. It stressed that situations such as children under 18 becoming parents are a clear violation of these rights.

The statement also included the following points:

“The inability to prevent child abuse and early marriages threatens children’s safety and constitutes a violation of the UNCRC's provisions on protecting children from all forms of exploitation and abuse.

The situation of children becoming parents violates their right to education and traps them in a cycle of lifelong poverty. Children who become parents at an early age cannot complete their education. Responsibilities related to childcare disrupt their schooling, which is a direct violation of their right to education as outlined in the UNCRC. Young individuals unable to complete their education may be forced to work in low-income jobs, leading to lifelong economic difficulties.

Children, as per the UNCRC, have the right to grow up in conditions suitable for their development. Forcing children to become parents at an early age leads to both individual and societal trauma, which is a blatant violation of children’s rights.

The state’s intervention in cases of child abuse and early marriages must be effective and comprehensive, as required by the UNCRC. The police are obligated to investigate and resolve every complaint related to such crimes seriously. In any complaint, the safety of the child victims must be prioritized, and collaboration with social service professionals should be ensured. Protecting children is not only a legal responsibility but also a humanitarian obligation.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security’s Social Services Department, the police, and other relevant state mechanisms must act urgently. Accordingly, the following measures should be taken:

1. Strengthening preventive mechanisms: Awareness and educational programs should be initiated to prevent early marriages and child abuse. This should be done in alignment with Article 24 of the UNCRC, ensuring the right of children to be protected from harmful influences during their development.

2. Serious investigation of complaints: Complaints of abuse or forced marriage must be thoroughly investigated by the police, and necessary legal processes must be initiated. Neglecting or ignoring complaints is a direct violation of the UNCRC.

3. Raising public awareness: Children should learn about their rights and be equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves. The Ministry of Education should develop curricula on topics such as body awareness and sexuality education in schools.

4. Improving sensitivity among professionals: Police officers, social service professionals, and healthcare workers should be further informed and sensitized regarding child rights and abuse issues.

It must not be forgotten that protecting children is one of the state’s most crucial responsibilities. Allowing child abuse and early marriages to continue is equivalent to condoning these crimes. This situation threatens not only the victimized children but also the future of the entire society. Respecting children’s rights and ensuring their healthy development is not just the responsibility of the state but of all humanity.

Every day we fail to protect children is a day when we lose a part of our human dignity.”