“Prisons Aren't Convenient For Children”

Juvenile Prisons Must Be Banned Initiative organized a petition for the closure of juvenile prison with the participation of children. 

On June 28, the initiative organized an event where children sang songs and flew colorful balloons in the air in Istanbul’s Galatasaray Square.

Spokesperson of the initiative Betül Kaplan, explained that prisons are not proper places for children.

“No matter how luxury you build it, it won’t change a thing. Because children know that it is a prison there and s/he is in prison.  

“When they are released, they will feel as a prisoner and also individuals look at them like that.

“If children stole something, we need to find its cause. If it is hunger, the government must feed him. If somebody forced him to do so, then they must be prisoned, and not them. 

“When a child commits something, s/he doesn’t think of its consequences. Maybe this is why they hurt. When children fight, they only think about the moment. 

“Prisons harm children’s psychology as well as the health of their bodies. Therefore prisons must close instead of the children.”

List of initiative members

Çocuk Cezaevleri Kapatılsın Girişimi bileşenleri: İnsan Hakları Derneği, Türkiye İnsan Hakları Vakfı, Çağdaş Hukukçular Derneği, Gündem Çocuk Derneği, Tutuklu ve Hükümlü Aileleri Hukuk Dayanışma Dernekleri Federasyonu (TUHAD-FED), Özgürlüğünden Yoksun Gençlerle Dayanışma Derneği (Öz-Ge Der), İnsan Hakları ve Mazlumlar İçin Dayanışma Derneği (MAZLUMDER), Ceza İnfaz Sisteminde Sivil Toplum Derneği (CİSST), Sosyal Hizmet Uzmanları Derneği (SHUDER), Türkiye Çocuklara Yeniden Özgürlük Vakfı, İştar Kadın Merkezi, Uluslararası Çocuk Merkezi, Çocuklar İçin Adalet Takipçileri, Eğitim ve Bilim Emekçileri Sendikası (Eğitim Sen), Çakıl Derneği, Toplumsal Dayanışma için Psikologlar Derneği (TODAP), Sağlık ve Sosyal Hizmet Emekçileri Sendikası (SES), Çocuk İstismarını ve İhmalini Önleme Derneği. (YÖ/YY) 

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.