Abstract:

With regards to the development and sustainability of societies, the value attached to the child by the society is directly proportional to its development (Akyüz, 2001, 1). The child is an independent individual with distinctive features of intelligence and personality, rather than a minimized modal of an adult (Yavuzer, 1994, 26). A civilized society is a society with rules. As the most significant and effective of the rules regulating a society appears to be the legal rules (Kepenekçi, 2008,5), it is not sufficient to take solely the educational measures for the growth, development and protection of a child. In addition, legal rules within a society which regulate the above mentioned issue must also be included within this framework. According to Akyüz (2000), the child as well as the society has a contribution with regards to the accordance of these rules to human dignity, respectability and freedoms. Increase in cases involving child neglect and abuse is at the alarming rate. Although the primary studies related to children rights go long way back, the reports prepared by the Committees of Children Rights reflect the lack of systematic supervision and mechanisms of complaint, as well as the lack of a complete public awareness related to children rights. Hence; in addition to the legal regulations related to children rights, significant effort is required for the formation of a complete public awareness. In the first chapter of this study; concepts such as rights possessed by children, legal measures taken with regards to the legal protection of children, children rights and children act have been discussed. In the second chapter; issues such as the formation of secure environments for children and legal framework established for the protection of children against active and passive violent behaviours such as child neglect and abuse have been discussed

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