The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has strongly criticized recent Turkish legal changes impacting child offenders. Amendments to the Child Protection Law now allow for increased prison terms and mandate that children begin serving sentences in closed juvenile detention facilities. Previously, children were often directed to rehabilitation institutions focused on education. The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern that transfers from these closed facilities will now be conditional on assessment, potentially delaying access to rehabilitative programs. This shift represents a move away from prioritizing rehabilitation and towards harsher punishments for young offenders in Turkey. Critics fear these changes will negatively impact the development and future prospects of children involved in the justice system. The Turkish parliament passed the amendments earlier this week.