In a move that has human rights officials reaching for their rulebooks, Türkiye has adopted sweeping changes to its Child Protection Law that would make it harder for child offenders to avoid harsh sentences. The law, passed on Saturday, increases sentences for offenders aged 15 to 18, allows judges to deny age-based sentence reductions for those convicted of intentional killing or aggravated injury, and mandates that child offenders be held in closed juvenile institutions rather than education-focused rehabilitation centres.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in a statement that probably required some deep breaths, acknowledged that some proposals are positive - like improving coordination between child protection and education services and preventing children from accessing firearms. But he also flagged that others 'raise serious human rights concerns.' Specifically, he's 'particularly alarmed by the possibility that child offenders could be sentenced to life imprisonment.' Because nothing says 'juvenile justice' like throwing away the key.

The UN has previously raised eyebrows over arbitrary detentions under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's administration, including the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu and his supporters. Now, Türk is deploring the mandatory detention clause, which ditches the current practice of housing child offenders in education-based institutions. He argues that justice systems, including juvenile ones, should balance accountability with rehabilitation, offering individualized support and chances for reintegration. 'A focus on rehabilitation and reintegration is essential to protect victims and to reduce re-offending,' he said, adding that it leads to safer communities for everyone.

This all runs counter to Article 37 of the UN's 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stipulates that detaining a child should be a last resort and for the shortest appropriate time. Türk noted that Türkiye's lengthy detention measures 'clearly run counter' to the convention. Türkiye signed the convention in 1990 and ratified it in 1994, with formal statements on several articles - but notably not Article 37.

Türk urged Türkiye to amend the law to align with its international obligations. 'It is essential that the law is amended to ensure that all of its provisions are fully aligned with Türkiye’s international human rights law obligations, including on children’s rights,' he said. In other words: read the fine print you agreed to, folks.