Reports of child abuse in Turkey spike amid pandemic
A prominent children's rights activist told Al-Monitor that complaints of child abuse incidents have doubled since the closure of the schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Some 20 million children across Turkey are currently at home after schools were shut down nationwide March 16 to contain the novel coronavirus. The shutdown inadvertently set off an unprecedented rise in reports of child abuse and maltreatment. With more children at home, parents have more opportunities to observe them and notice warning signs of non-domestic child abuse and maltreatment. Yet, activists also warn of a spike in reports of domestic violence and abuse.
Prominent activist Saadet Ozkan Efe brought up the surge on Twitter April 4.
“Mothers are taking notice of their children at home. We are receiving too many child abuse complaints. My heart is broken, I feel sad, we will do everything we can to help them,” Efe wrote on Twitter.
Efe, a teacher and a laureate of the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award, rose to prominence in Turkey after she came forward to protect six students who were being abused by the principal of her school. Efe then founded a civic group supporting young victims of abuse.
