TOGEMDER and Üsküdar University Unite for Children

TOGEMDER and Üsküdar University, with the support of Istanbul Governorship and Provincial Directorate of National Education, are launching a new project on child neglect and abuse; aiming to equip children with basic psychosocial skills and raise awareness among adults around the child and families. The project, titled

Child abuse and neglect rank among the most significant social problems affecting millions of children and their families worldwide. Research reveals that incidents of abuse occurring within the family in Turkey are more frequent than those occurring outside the family. The average age for intra-familial abuse ranges from 5 to 7, while for extra-familial abuse, it varies between 7 and 10 years.

Acquaintances constitute 80 percent of abusers

When examining the age distribution of children subjected to sexual abuse, it is observed that; “30% are in the 2-5 age group, 40% are in the 6-10 age group, and 30% are in the 11-17 age group. This means that the younger age group constitutes 70% of the cases. It is noteworthy that 96% of abusers are male, and 80% are someone the child knows.” 

Project to raise awareness among families

The “We Will Come in the Crab Individual Rehabilitation Model” project will be implemented in cooperation with TOGEMDER (Social Development Center Education and Social Solidarity Association) and Üsküdar University, aiming to equip children with basic psychosocial skills and raise awareness among adults and families regarding child neglect and abuse. The project, approved by the T.R. Ministry of Interior, will commence in Üsküdar, the pilot district, after the protocol signing ceremony.

Project to last 9 months

The target audience for the 9-month “We Will Come in the Crab Individual Rehabilitation Model” project includes 400 students aged 6-12 from 5 pilot schools in Üsküdar, their parents, school administrators, teachers, school staff, neighborhood headmen in the areas where the schools are located, religious officials, and non-governmental organizations in designated districts. Sexual abuse awareness and prevention training will be provided within the scope of the project.

Protocol signing ceremony held to launch the project

To implement the project, a protocol signing ceremony took place at the Üsküdar University Senate Hall with the participation of TOGEMDER Executive Board Chairman, Istanbul Deputy Belma Satır, TOGEMDER Board Chairman Füsun Türken Uysal, Provincial Director of National Education Levent Yazıcı, and Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. Information regarding the project's scope was provided by Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Director of Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine - Department of Mental Health and Diseases and SOBE.

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The project is about protecting vulnerable children”

Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of writing a project, framing it logically, and conducting analyses to interpret its data, said,