Progress for Children 2000

Note: Pages in this section have been stored solely for archiving purposes. Information contained here refers to the 2001–2005 CPAP. Follow this link for current details about UNICEF in Turkey.

A lark in the park -- pretending to enjoy an afternoon nap but her friends aren’t convinced. Photograph by Rana Mullan © UNICEF Turkey 2004

Significant progress has been made in implementing the CRC in Turkey over the past decade. Some of the successes include:

The minimum term for compulsory education has been extended to eight years resulting in a 30% increase in school enrolment when it was introduced in the school year 1998-1999. As of 2001, 17 million students have enrolled and the enrolment rate for girls has increased.
The MMR has fallen by over 75% during the past twenty-five years.
WHO certified Turkey polio-free in June 2002.
The IMR is down from 43‰ live births in 1998 to 29‰ in 2003.
The U5MR is down from 52‰ live births in 1998 to 37‰ in 2003.
Prevention of IDD has been strengthened by a dramatic rise in the consumption of iodised salt in Turkey -- the latest Demographic and Health Survey shows that 70% of households now use iodised salt compared to 18.2% in a survey conducted by the State Institute of Statistics in 1995.

Children’s rights

Turkey has recently undertaken several important actions to ensure the protection of children and children’s rights:

The CRC was ratified 1991;
ILO conventions 138 and 182 on Child Labour have been ratified;
The protocols on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Pornography have been ratified;
The protocols on the Involvement of children in armed conflict have been signed;
The European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights has been ratified;
The National Plan of Action for Time Bound Elimination of the Worst forms of Child Labour is underway.
The rate of child labour for 6-15 year olds fell from 8.5% in 1994 to 4.2% in 1999.

All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, have been granted the same rights and legal entitlements.
The minimum legal age for marriage was raised to 17 years for both girls and boys.
Mothers and fathers now have equal custody rights. The best interests of the child prevail.
Any income a child has, such as inheritance, must be used for the care and education of the child.

UNICEF IN TURKEY 2001–2005

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