The statement, delivered by Şenay Coşkun, the party's Provincial Chair for Women's Affairs, condemned the international community’s silence on atrocities committed against children.
Coşkun highlighted the staggering toll of violence in Gaza, reporting that since October 7, 2023, approximately 18,000 children have been killed by the Zionist occupation regime. Additionally, over 35,000 children have lost one or both parents during the ongoing conflict.
"Today, as we mark World Children's Rights Day, we must ask: what is the United Nations doing against this massacre of children? Where is it in the face of such atrocities?" Coşkun questioned, criticizing the failure of international bodies to protect vulnerable children.
Coşkun noted that children face violence and neglect in numerous regions around the world, while institutions celebrating children's rights day fail to act meaningfully. She criticized these organizations for their inaction, stating, “Children are massacred for various reasons in many parts of the world daily, yet those claiming to uphold their rights remain indifferent spectators.”
Addressing local and global concerns, Coşkun pointed out systemic failures that leave children vulnerable to crime, abuse, and exploitation. She emphasized the rise in juvenile crime, the plight of children caught in poverty or trafficking, and incidents of horrific abuse.
Referring to local cases, she highlighted unresolved crimes against children, such as the murder of Narin Güran in Diyarbakır, as well as shocking abuses like those attributed to the so-called “Neonatal Gang,” which sparked public outrage.
Coşkun criticized international organizations like the United Nations and UNESCO, asserting that their claims of defending children’s rights have proven ineffective. She highlighted the exploitation and starvation faced by children in African nations, saying, “The images of our children starving in African countries exploited by Western powers shame humanity.”
Coşkun called for a renewed approach to child welfare, rooted in spiritual and moral values. “It’s not about merely gifting and treating children,” she stated. “It’s about preparing them for life with the innate compassion and nature bestowed by their Creator. By protecting their minds and bodies from today’s widespread corruption, we can help them build a better world and eternal peace in the hereafter.”
She also advocated for harsher penalties against those who harm children or lead them into crime, emphasizing that strong deterrents are necessary to ensure children’s safety.
Coşkun concluded by extending her wishes for a better future for children: “If today is truly World Children's Rights Day, then let us strive to make it meaningful. With these feelings and thoughts, we embrace our children and wish them safe and prosperous futures.” (ILKHA)