Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

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23.22 In addition the Netherlands report 2002 also stated that:
“The quality of care in homes varies from province to province. In some parts of the country there are fewer facilities for the placement of minors than in others… It is difficult to judge how far care in general is adequate by Turkish standards since levels of care vary so much. Turkish authorities responsible for care and assistance to unsupported minors often have to cope with a lack of funding.” [2a] (p153)
23.23 The report continued “According to law, care and assistance to unsupported minors are provided by the state, but various charitable organisations also provide care for minors. The Social Services Directorates are responsible for authorising the establishment of and monitoring such institutions. The Directorates regularly consult such organisations in order to streamline care. UNICEF and other international organisations are also active to some extent in the field of care for unsupported minors.” [2a] (p154)
23.24 The USSD 2005 report noted that in October 2005, broadcast media outlets had aired footage of employees abusing children at the Malatya State Orphanage. “Images included employees beating children who were stripped naked and sitting in a bathtub. Several of the children told police their caretakers had forced them to eat excrement. Physicians subsequently examined the children and reported finding evidence that 21 of 46 had been subject to torture, including severe beatings and hot water burns. Authorities pressed charges against five employees and removed four others from their posts. The trial and investigation continued at year’s [2005] end.” [5b] (Section 1c)
23.25 A Human Rights Association (IHD/HRA) press statement issued on 27 October 2005 noted that:
“The practices carried out by public officials and caretakers against children between the ages 0 and 6 at a childcare center in Malatya are torture. Children, in the childcare center were subjected to practice of systematic torture such as punishment and intimidation by public officials… Torturous acts that children in Malatya childcare center were subjected to have brought to the agenda the violent treatment that has been maintained in such institutions.“ [73j]
23.26 The European Commission 2006 report also noted that “In late 2005, ill-treatment of children in an orphanage of the Social Services and Child Protection Institution (SHÇEK) in Malatya revealed the shortcomings of the child protection system in Turkey.” [71a] (p20)
23.27 As reported by BIA News Center in July 2006, ‘Overhaul Needed in Child Protection’:
“Diyarbakir Bar Association Children’s Rights Center lawyer Cengiz Analay has appealed for children’s homes to be opened for civilian inspection with an overhaul of the legislation protecting children in wake of confirmation that at least 34 minors had gone missing from such homes over the past 3 years in Diyarbakir province alone. It was revealed that 34 children listed at children’s homes in Diyarbakir were unaccounted for, investigation launched by the Diyarbakir Governor’s Office Human Rights Provincial Board on request of the Prime Ministry Human Rights Supreme Board. The investigation was launched after independent allegations of disappearances were made from social services operated children’s homes and showed that 34 minors, including 18 girls, were missing from homes for 0-12 and 13-18 age group children.” [102b]
Health issues
23.28 The European Commission 2005 report noted that:
“Regarding communicable diseases, the Ministry of Health is closely following up the WHO strategies for the elimination of measles in the country. Through this effort, nine million children under six received an additional dose of measles vaccine in addition to the school children vaccinated in the last year [2005]. Turkey has made some progress in most areas of consumer and health protection. In the area of public heath a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases is being set up and alignment with tobacco control has progressed swiftly.” [71d] (p123)
23.29 The USSD 2005 report stated that “The government provides health services to citizens who lack health insurance. Children of parents with health insurance are covered under their parent’s plans. Boys and girls have equal access to health care.” [5b] (section 3)