Erdogan backs new legal measures against child abusers

By Hatice Ozdemir Tosun and Ilkay Guder

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday new administrative measures and legal regulations against child abusers would be implemented soon.

Speaking to the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s parliamentary group meeting in capital Ankara, Erdogan said six ministers were working on the issue.

The ministers will submit their proposals on the issue in a very short time to the premier and the president following which the government is going to take immediate steps on imposing new administrative and legal measures, he said.

Raising awareness about child abuse was also discussed at length during a Cabinet meeting, he said.

"We have started work on increasing awareness on this issue by using all channels, from families to schools, as well as eliminating gaps in the law and its implementation," he added.

The president said child abuse cases, which had increased in recent days, was a dynamite that "would lead to the collapse of our society".

"It is our responsibility to safeguard the innocent [children] -- who are part of our lives -- from all kinds of threats and danger in addition to raising them and ensuring their survival," he said.

The president also vowed to take fast and effective remedies without wasting time on unnecessary meetings and discussions.

He said those who committed such criminal acts would be exempted from any leeway in the country's executive system.

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul also said Tuesday legal steps were being taken against the increase in child abuse, and the ministry was working on enforcing chemical castration for offenders.