Turkey condemned by the ECHR for failing to protect a sexually exploited minor

The European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg, here on February 7, 2019 © AFP

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The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday (February 9) condemned Turkey for failing to protect a sexually exploited minor.

The court accuses the Turkish courts of "shortcomings in the criminal procedure" against suspects who had forced a 13-year-old girl into prostitution.

The country will have to pay 25,000 euros to the complainant.

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The complaint for rape and forcible confinement was filed in 2003. Seven years later, the three defendants were found guilty of the sole acts of " 

sexual act on a minor under 15

 ": the victim was considered to consent.

This because the

Turkish

justice

considered that there was " 

not a total lack of will

 " on the part of this young girl, however 13 years old at the time of the facts.

Before

the ECHR,

the young girl complained of not having " 

benefited from professional support during the procedure

 ", " 

of having been subjected to humiliation in the face of the accused

 " and of having been " 

threatened by them in full view of the judicial authorities

 ”.

She also denounced the prescription of certain facts such as sequestration.

For the ECHR, the consent of a minor under the age of fifteen " 

may in no case be admissible in the context of a case of sexual exploitation and abuse

 ".

Turkey was therefore ordered to pay the complainant 25,000 euros for “non- 

pecuniary damage

 ”.

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 See also

: Turkey: the #MeeToo of Turkish lawyers

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  • International justice

  • Womens rights

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