Turkish charter panel agrees on article to prevent child marriages

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily NewsThe four parties drafting Turkey’s new charter have agreed to enact a tougher article to prevent child marriages amid the continuation of the practice

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Aiming to address the continuing issue of child brides in Turkey, the four parties have agreed on an article reading ‘The state provides protection for children and women against domestic violence and prevents the early and forcible marriage of girls.’ DHA photo

Göksel Bozkurtgoksel.bozkurt@hurriyet.com.tr

The Constitution Conciliation Commission, which is continuing efforts to write Turkey’s new charter, has agreed to offer constitutional protection against child marriage, an ongoing problem in the country.

“The state provides the protection of children and women against domestic violence and prevents the early and forcible marriage of girls,” the item about founding a family read. “The family depends on equality between the partners. Raising and educating the minors is a responsibility of the mother and the father. The state examines whether this responsibility is executed,” it said.

Birth control rejected

However, a main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) suggestion on supporting birth control was rejected.

It also suggested children contribute to family decisions.

“[Families] consider the contribution of children to decisions about themselves,” the item said.
An item also protects private life, barring media, including the Internet, from using such material without the parties’ approval.

An item about the structure of the family led to discussions about the family with the CHP saying that not all couples are married and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) raising criticism, citing the problems regarding possible divorces in such cases.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the MHP also objected to the CHP’s stance, saying that Turkey had “authentic” conditions. This might refer to religious marriages which are not backed with the legal status.

“The privacy of private life and family life is untouchable. Everybody has the right to demand respect and protection for the privacy of private or family life,” the item said, without making major changes to the existing one.

Charter items to prevent sperm bank

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Representatives of all four parties on the Constitution Conciliation Commission have agreed on an item that might ban the founding of sperm banks.

The item has recognized “the children’s right to know their mothers and fathers.”

Accordingly, the state is granted a right to ban sperm banks or obligate them keep reports of the donors, which would restrict the business.

Sperm banks and surrogate motherhood are forbidden in Turkey.

The item was suggested by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) earlier.