SİMGE ÇİÇEK

2017108132

CEREN SUNTEKİN AND HALİM KIR- CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF

CIVIL SOCIETY AND LOCAL GOVERMENT

Ceren and Halim are working in Yereliz society that conducts monitoring, research,

implementation and advocacy studies for supporting inclusive, participatory and sustainable

cities. In their presentation, they talked about municipalities’ activities for children’s active

participation, laws about child participation, children’s council, and good examples from local

communities.

In the first part of the presentation, we questioned and discussed about municipalities

activities towards children. According to municipality law, every person is a citizen of town

which they reside. Who is everyone? Elders, students, patients, refugees, disabled people,

artists, LGBT+, activist, children and so on. Children are also citizenship of town so, they can

communicate with municipalities.

What we do request about children from municipalities? What types of activities do

they for children participation? Mostly, festivals, summer sport schools, giving a

representation in 23 April, and mass circumcision are arranged by local governments. Mass

circumcision is more troubled one because it highlights manhood so; gender inequalities are

strengthened in society.

Why do people who work with children’s rights communicate with local government?

The first reason is that people who work in children’s right advocacy can reach more people

when they work with local government. Therefore, good examples might generalize more

districts so, citizens can increase their awareness. Also, they can request logistics, cash and in-

kind support. Those people warn local government about children’s right violations in their
district. Finally, organizations can influence the decision mechanisms by effective

participation. In overall, civil organizations can find more fast and effective solutions by

communicating with local government. Also, it is easier to reach local decision makers rather

than central one.

Which methods or vehicles can use for influencing decision making process of local

government as a citizen? There are websites, white tables, community councils, and social

media. We can share good examples with local government so, they can affect them. Social

media platforms can be more effective when we can report any violations by tag the

municipality’s social media profile. People can examine local government’s strategic plan and

analyze their missions and vision for future works. Municipalities use telephone lines so,

people can easily contact relevant institutions.

Which laws are associated with children’s participation? The most important law no is

5393 that says every person is a citizen of town that they live. According to this law, children

are citizen of town they reside so, they have a right to request and benefit from local

government’s activities. Thanks to this law, city councils are established that nurture the

culture of living together and multi-actor management approach in communities. It makes

easier to involved disadvantageous people who require special needs. Child councils can open

through city councils. However, children councils tend to be open any violations due to the

child perceptions among adults. Even decision makers cannot have child perceptions based

children’s right. This kind of institution is not for show and adults must pay attention children

voices when they talked about children’s rights. We need to see children as an individual and

active citizenship and we must carry the idea of working children’s rights with children in

child councils. Finally, people who work with children’s right advocacy do not know their

interlocutor in local governments so; there should be more units of children works and

children rights.
 In final part of the presentation, they talked about good examples of local governments

with civil societies. These examples are very important to lead other municipalities and they

can also generalize such examples in their district. The first one is that Sarıyer municipality

provides several good project based on the motto of govern Sarıyer with children. In the

project of Sarıyer is the municipality of children provides several education programs for their

personals who directly work with children. The education programs include increasing the

awareness of child perception and children’s rights, child protection, child abuse, and gender

inequalities. This project plays a vital role in strengthening people who work with children

because we cannot support children if there are a person who does not children as an

individual or having any information about children’s rights. Secondly, Sarıyer municipality

established an advisory board that consist only 22 children. They prepare brochures about

purposes and activities that determined by children.

Second good example is occurred with Şişli Municipality and association against

sexual violence in 2018. They arranged education programs that addressed the children’s

rights to speech about their bodies. They discussed about protective and interceptive methods

of child abuse. This project spreads other local governments and central decision mechanisms.

Kent 95 is another good example by Maltepe Municipality and Bernar Van Leer

community. This project aim is to carry early childhood development in planning process of

cities. They create living areas for children and their families. This project is highly

significant for children’s play rights. In my neighbor, children do not find any appropriate

place for playing. They mostly play street where cars always pass and most people do not

want to play children in front of their houses. This is a real issue because families can fight

about it. The right of play is one of the crucial developmental milestones in children’s life.
 Overall, Suntekin and Kır’s presentation was highly beneficial for teachers and

peoples who work with children. I have not think about what local governments can do about

children’s rights. Their speeches lead to questioned and think about these issues as a teacher.

REFERENCES:

Suntekin, C., Kır, H. (2020). “Çocuk Hakları Alanında Çalışan Sivil Toplum Örgütleri İçin

Yerel Savunuculuk Rehberi”. Yerel İzleme Araştırma ve Uygulama Derneği.