'21 kids under protection went missing in Ankara'

Duvar English

Some 21 kids have gone missing from the state-run housing complex in Ankara for children under protection, the government's human rights monitoring agency Turkey Human Rights and Equality Institution (TİHEK) revealed, the daily BirGün reported on Aug. 18. 

The missing 21 girls between 13 and 18 ran away from the Saray Kids' Homes Complex in the capital, a recent report by TİHEK claimed, adding that law enforcement's juvenile crimes department is on the case. 

Some 11 kids were reported to be runaways from the complex in 2018 in a report by TİHEK.

The housing complex has an open-door policy, the assistant director said, adding that residents are allowed to leave to go to school, the hospital or to visit their families.

"This is the kids' home, not a place where they're forcefully held," the administrator said. "We can't lock them in here or anything, but they're considered runaways when they don't return."

The housing complex is reportedly over capacity by 100 kids, as 260 children live in the residences intended for merely 160 minors. 

Another concerning statistic from the TİHEK report revealed that only 69 tablets were assigned to the 260 residents of the housing complex, making it virtually impossible for all kids to access online education systems during the pandemic. 

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