Child abuse and neglect in Turkey: professional, governmental and non- governmental achievements in improving the national child protection system Seda Akco 1 , Tolga Dagli 2 , Mehmet Akif Inanici 3 , Hatice Kaynak 1 , Resmiye Oral 4 , Figen Sahin 5 , Zeynep Sofuoglu 6 , Betul Ulukol 7 1 Turkish Bar Association, Departments of 2 Paediatric Surgery and 3 Forensic Medicine, Marmara University Medical School, Turkey, 4 Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, USA, 5 Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara 6 Ambulance Physicians Association Izmir Branch, 7 Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University Medical School, Turkey Since ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, significant efforts were made in Turkey to improve protection of children from abuse and neglect. The government took steps to amend relevant laws. Several state departments recognized the need for professional in-service training of relevant governmental agency staff. University hospitals established numerous hospital-based multi- disciplinary child protection centres. The government established an Interministerial Higher Council, which has been overseeing the foundation of 13 child advocacy centres for a multidisciplinary and interagency response to child sexual abuse. In addition to undertaking research, non-governmental organizations contributed to this process by instituting professional and public education. These ground-breaking developments in the last decade give promise of even further improvement in the national child protection system from investigative, child protective and rehabilitative perspectives. Keywords: Child abuse, Child neglect, Turkey Abbreviations CAN Child abuse & neglect UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child BECAN Balkan Epidemiological Study on Child Abuse and Neglect ACEs Adverse childhood experiences ICAST-C International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect child abuse screen- ing tool for children ICAST-P International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect child abuse screen- ing tool for parents MoFSP Ministry of Family and Social Policies CSA Child sexual abuse CPU Child Protection Unit DA District attorney CAC Child Advocacy Centres UCPIRC University-based Child Protection, Imple- mentation and Research Centre MoJ Ministry of Justice MoH Ministry of Health Introduction Despite significant efforts over the last decade, child abuse and neglect (CAN) is still a fairly new clinical field in Turkey. The establishment in 1988 of the Turkish Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect has raised professional awareness of CAN through training activities. With the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1995, Turkish policy-makers began working on amending the ‘Child in Need of Assistance’ and criminal laws. However, the laws relating to child protection are still far from being sufficiently comprehensive. This article outlines the major steps which the state and academics have taken in collaboration with domestic and international partners/consultants regarding CAN, and the further action that is required in order to achieve an optimal child protection system in Turkey. Adverse childhood experiences in Turkish school children: Balkan Epidemiological Study on Child Abuse and Neglect The Balkan Epidemiological Study on Child Abuse and Neglect (BECAN), co-funded by the European Authors are listed in alphabetical order. Correspondence to: R Oral, 200 Hawkins Drive, 2601 JCP, Iowa City, Iowa, 52245, USA. Fax:z1 319 384 6295; email: resmiye-oral@uiowa.edu ß W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2013 DOI 10.1179/2046905513Y.0000000088 Paediatrics and International Child Health 2013 VOL. 33 NO.4 301