Detention Of Children In Turkey

EDM number 299 in 2010-12, proposed by Hywel Williams on 23/06/2010.
Categorised under the topics of Asia, Children and families, Eastern Europe and Human rights.

That this House deplores the Turkish government's policy of detaining children under counter-terrorism laws; notes that around 4,000 Kurdish children are held in prison charged with such offences; expresses its concern that some children and youths face inappropriate sentences for offences such as attending demonstrations; further notes that lawyers defending these cases have condemned the quality of evidence being used to bring such cases to court; understands that many Turkish and international children's and human rights groups are of the opinion that the number of minors affected by Turkey's counter-terrorism legislation is increasing; believes that such prosecutions need to be brought to a halt if Turkey's democratic reforms are to have any substance; and calls for an end to the practise of imprisoning children under counter-terrorism laws in a manner which exacerbates the grievances and sense of injustice felt by Kurds in Turkey and contributes towards prolonging the conflict.

This motion has been signed by a total of 32 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.