The rights of the child in Turkey

Abstract

Children are the core element and the future of a society. However, they are also relatively weak and thus need to be specially protected. Turkish private law, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, provides a variety of rights to children. The basic rights of the children are regulated under the Turkish Civil Code of 2002. Furthermore, the Turkish Labor Code of 2003, Turkish Penal Code of 2005, Turkish Criminal Procedural Code of 2005, Child Protection Code of 2005 and the Law on the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence Against Women of 2013 also provide special rights and protective measures for children. Accordingly, this paper aims to present an overview of children’s basic rights and the protection mechanisms for children under Turkish Civil Code.