Turkey hands over seven children under state protection to Syrian authorities
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that children under state protection were handed over to Syrian authorities during her visit to Damascus.
As part of the visit to Syria by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, a total of seven children—three girls and four boys—under state protection in Turkey were handed over to Syrian authorities.
Visit to Syria and Delegation Talks
During her visit to Syria, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş was accompanied by her Syrian counterpart, Hind Kabavat, and Turkey's Ambassador to Damascus, Nuh Yılmaz. The two ministers visited an orphanage and held a joint press conference following the handover process of the children.
Voluntary Return Process
Minister Göktaş made statements regarding the voluntary return process of children under protection and care in Turkey whose family ties in Syria were identified. Following social investigations, three girls and four boys were entrusted to the Syrian state.
Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation
It was stated that the return process of the children was initiated within the scope of the memorandum of understanding signed in May with her Syrian counterpart, Hind Kabavat. Emphasizing that women and children are the greatest victims of wars, it was noted that the process was carried out within the framework of social services.
Humanitarian Values and Reconstruction
Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabavat drew attention to the importance of cooperation between Turkey and Syria in terms of the protection of families and children. Kabavat stated that the reconstruction process does not consist solely of building structures, and that humans always come before stone and concrete.