İYİ Party proposes law for child protection: 'Demand for school safety coordination'

Turkey's İYİ Party has submitted a comprehensive 48-article legislative proposal to parliament aimed at protecting children from escalating violence and digital threats. Şenol Sunat, the party's Deputy Chairman for Education Policies, announced the proposal, emphasizing its goal to shield children from violence, digital dangers, cyberbullying, addiction networks, and crime.

Sunat highlighted growing security concerns among parents and educators. He noted that parents now worry not only about their children's academic performance but also about their physical safety during the school day. Teachers, too, are increasingly anxious about the rising insecurity. "Today, a child is not only threatened in the schoolyard. They are on the phone screen, on social media, in digital bullying, targeted by addiction networks, surrounded by content that encourages violence," Sunat stated.

The proposal introduces a "new generation" child protection model that places the child at the center. It focuses on early risk detection, family involvement, school protection, and empowering teachers. Sunat described it as a holistic and proactive early warning system that addresses education, mental health, social services, and the digital world, aiming to prevent risks at their source.

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Today, a child is not only threatened in the schoolyard. They are on the phone screen, on social media, in digital bullying, targeted by addiction networks, surrounded by content that encourages violence.

Key provisions include mandating at least two drills annually for crisis situations and establishing a School Safety Coordination Unit. The proposal also calls for controlled entry systems at educational institutions and the deployment of certified professional security personnel in high-risk schools. To address mental health needs, it suggests assigning at least one psychological counselor for every 200 students and forming Multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Teams.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to amend Law No. 5651 concerning digital platforms. It proposes adding definitions for "Algorithmic Propagation" and "Child User" to impose severe sanctions on social network providers that present content glorifying violence and suicide to children. Amendments to the Turkish Penal Code would increase penalties for crimes committed in and around schools and dormitories by half. Access to individual firearms would be made more difficult, requiring ammunition and firearms to be stored in separate locked systems, with license revocation for violations.

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This proposal will be a new generation child protection model that centers the child, foresees risks in advance, involves the family in the process, protects the school, empowers the teacher, and sees the child as an individual to be protected, not a perpetrator.