ISTANBUL, April 28 -- An estimated 17,000 children in Belgium are growing up with one or both parents in prison, but they remain "invisible" due to a lack of registration, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing a local daily.

According to Belga News Agency today, the figure includes about 9,000 children in Flanders, the self-governing Dutch-speaking region in the north.

The lack of comprehensive data is hampering effective policy responses and access to support services, the Children's Rights Commissioner said, calling for a coordinated, child-centred approach.

Research conducted by Vrije Universiteit Brussel, alongside international studies, indicates that parental imprisonment can affect children's well-being, development and rights.

Early...