Published on: 2026-08-13
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 13, 2026 Human Rights
On Thursday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the amendments adopted by the Turkish parliament that will allow judges to impose life sentences on juvenile offenders found guilty of committing serious crimes.
Amendments to the Child Protection Law adopted on Saturday significantly toughen penalties for offenders aged 15 to 18, give judges the right to refuse leniency based on age for those accused of intentional murder or causing grievous bodily harm, and also mandate that juvenile offenders be held in closed correctional facilities rather than rehabilitation-focused educational centers.
“Although some proposals may be positive — for example, those aimed at ensuring better coordination between child protection and education sectors, as well as preventing children’s access to firearms — others raise serious human rights concerns,” Türke said.
“I am particularly concerned about the possibility that juvenile offenders may be sentenced to life imprisonment,” he added.
Rehabilitation reduces the rate of recidivism
Türk expressed regret regarding the provision on mandatory detention, which departs from the current practice of holding juvenile offenders in institutions focused on education and rehabilitation.
“Special attention must be given to rehabilitation and reintegration; this is crucial for protecting victims and reducing recidivism,” said Türk.
International law
According to Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, arrest, detention, or deprivation of liberty of a child should only be used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period.
Türk stated that prolonged detention applied to children is “clearly contrary” to this convention.
Turkey joined the Convention in 1990 and ratified it in 1994. It submitted official statements regarding its interpretation of several articles, but not Article 37.
The High Commissioner called on Turkey to comply with its obligations under international law.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.