afrinpost-Exclusive
The U.S. State Department has, once again, included Turkey in its list of countries implicated in the recruitment of children, as outlined in the updated 2023 Human Trafficking Report.
In an official statement released by the U.S. State Department on September 14, 2023, this report assesses and classifies countries that support the recruitment of children by various armed groups, including those backed by governments. The criteria used for this classification adhere to U.S. law, specifically the Child Soldier Prevention Act. The reporting period spans from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021.
Notably, this marks the first time a NATO member has found itself placed within the parameters of the Child Soldier Prevention Act. A senior official at the U.S. State Department cited Turkey’s support for the ‘Sultan Murad Division,’ a non-state armed group known for its recruitment and utilization of child soldiers.
The list of countries identified as supporters of child recruitment encompasses 15 nations, with five Arab nations among them: Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
Turkey responded to the U.S. State Department’s report on child recruitment with a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on September 15, 2023. Turkey refuted the claims and asserted its adherence to international conventions pertaining to the safeguarding of children’s rights, underlining its meticulous commitment to enforcing these obligations.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement was assertive and emphasized that Turkey spares no effort in combating human trafficking, prosecuting perpetrators, protecting victims, and actively engaging in bilateral, regional, and international cooperation to address this issue. The statement also raised concerns that human rights issues could potentially be politicized within the American report.
Consistent with past practices, the Turkish government seized the opportunity to criticize the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), leveling a series of accusations within its statement, though lacking concrete evidence to substantiate the claims made by the U.S.
The U.S. State Department had previously published a report titled ‘Trafficking in Persons Report 2021’ on July 1, 2021, where it initially included Turkey on the list of countries implicated in using child soldiers. A senior U.S. official at the State Department mentioned during a press conference that Turkey is also connected to child recruitment operations in Libya and expressed the hope that the United States can work with the Turkish side to address this issue.
