The AK Party's Alev Dedegil and Aşkın Asan are working on a bill to combat sexual assault, especially against children, in addition to revising guidelines followed by institutions during investigations into such crimes.Arguing that Turkey has failed to take effective steps to combat sexual crimes, experts say victims are not protected well, preventative measures are not taken and the state has not formed a coherent policy on the matter. They note, however, that harsh punishments such as chemical castration might not prevent cases of child molestation could violate human rights. Pundits argue that as long as the state does not implement a cohesive, large-scale policy to combat sexual crimes, these crimes will continue even if severe punishments are applied.
“Pedophilia is not only a crime but a psychiatric illness. The question is, can the illness be controlled by the patient? The patient might want to be cured, but this is a decision left to his will. The ethical conclusion regarding this problem is that chemical castration should be carried out if the patient opts for it,” says psychiatrist Selçuk Candansayar, a professor at Gazi University.
He underlined, however, that many child molesters do not consider their tendencies bad or harmful and that only a few apply for medical treatment.
“Chemical castration prevents erections but cannot prevent strong desires. In addition, there are many other ways to assault someone. Given this, some argue chemical castration might even lead to an increase in such crimes,” he added.
According to Candansayar, chemical castration is not a treatment for pedophilia but a punishment that does not contribute to rehabilitation. Furthermore, its implementation is a subject of legal debate and sparks human rights concerns.
He suggests that every case should be evaluated individually and that a solution should be found accordingly.
Candansayar also added that the state's record of fulfilling its obligations toward victims is very poor. “The judicial process traumatizes victims over and over again. The media's record is also very poor. Sexual education is insufficient. Whenever awareness about sexuality is deficient, sexual crimes increase,” Candansayar said.
Women's Consultation and Solidarity Center (KAMER) President Nebahat Akkoç also underlined that the state is neither taking preventive measures nor doing its best to protect victims and said this is the real subject that has to be discussed.
“Of course, sexual crimes make us very angry, but we cannot make concessions from our efforts to be a state with the rule of law. Turkey has signed many international agreements, but none of them has paved the way for those kinds of punishments,” she said.
Selma Acuner, from the Association for Education and Supporting Women Candidates (KA-DER), underlined that the state should follow a decisive policy and approach the subject of sexual harassment not only from the point of view of punishment but other aspects as well.
“Simply suggesting heavy punishments in a country that faces the problem of lacking fair trials and not taking any preventive measures is not right,” she said.
Acuner also underlined that chemical castration ignores many other types of molestation and said that implementing castration as a punishment might leave other types of molestation unpunished.
Human Rights Association (İHD) President Öztürk Türkdoğan emphasized that the Constitution protects the corporal body of an individual, including that of a defendant.
“Such suggestions only deal with the result of the problem, not with its causes. They do not serve to prevent the crimes either,” he said.
Türkdoğan recalled that after the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was amended and punishments for sexual crimes were increased, but many attenuating circumstances hinder their implementation.
“Of course, I am not saying that the rights of the defended should be violated, but the implementation of punishment for sexual crimes to restore the feeling of justice of the victim should be implemented carefully.”
National
