The child abuse bill should be withdrawn completely

It was excellent to see women banding together and making their voices heard on the government's recent child sex abuse bill. They were able to solve part of this issue. But a significant part of it is still there.  

The remaining part of the bill still suggests that the age of consent should be lowered from 15 to 12, meaning that underage marriage to which young girls could be subjected may still be permitted, and rapists could get away with it under legal justification that there was "consent." 

We should continue to resist and fight. 

According to Canan Güllü, the head of the Federation of Women's Associations of Turkey (TKDF), the initial withdrawal of the motion is not enough. The bill should be withdrawn completely. "Even though the bill suggests increasing the penalty for rapists of children under the age of 12, it actually allows children under 12 to get married, citing 'consent for sexual relations,'" Güllü said.

Even though the bill is claimed to increase the penalty for rape of children under the age of 12, in fact it introduces age discrimination for child rapes. It enables a lowering of the legal age to marry to 12. 

Article 103 of the Turkish Penal Code openly states that "consent" for sexual acts is not acceptable under the age of 15. But this bill will somehow legally approve the forced marriage of children above the age of 12, justified by excuses like "customs," "traditions," and "religion."

Güllü said child and sexual abuse matters were above politics. "Everybody reacted against the motion.

 International organizations, men and women took the streets, everybody was outraged. The conservative [Women and Democracy Association] KADEM was equally disturbed and told me that 'Everybody worked...