Maat Foundation: Turkey recruited 1,316 children in northern Syria between 2016 and 2019

CAIRO — An Egyptian human rights organization has reported Turkey’s involvement in recruiting hundreds of children from the areas it occupies in Syria to fight in its proxy militias in Syria aas well as Libya.

In its most recent report, Turkey’s Involvement in the Recruitment of Children from Areas it Occupies in Northern Syria, the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development, and Human Rights revealing the international community’s repeated failure to act effectively to protect civilians in Syria, particularly in areas occupied by Turkey and its proxy forces. The lack of accountability has encouraged Turkish-backed groups to commit systematic war crimes and other violations of international law, including the recruitment of children.

The report states that Turkey was, and is, directly involvement in the recruitment of children to fight in the areas under its control in Syria. According to Maat, Turkey recruited 1,316 children in northern Syria between 2016 and 2019.

The report also stressed that Turkey is also using children to fight in Libya in support of its ally, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord. Children recruited by Turkey are used on the front lines as direct fighters, the organization said.