The First Children’s Forum, 2000: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s Address

… We are all of us charged with the responsibility of full commitment to international conventions and of contributing to the activities under way, with education and health foremost among these, in order to leave you the legacy of a world which is inhabitable in every respect.

Ratification by many countries, including Turkey, of the Child’s Rights Declaration and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 8CRC), both fruits of long and devoted efforts of the United Nations, is a very important step in the direction of creating a world where peace and tolerance reign.

The CRC stipulates above all that every child has the right to life and charges the state to safeguard the child’s life and development. Recognition of children’s rights is an indicator of the extent of social development in a country. Every society has an obligation to take children under its wing, and to ensure that children live and grow in the best circumstances. Childhood is the most delightful time of life. No adversity, no problem should distress children, or cast a shadow over their joy of living. Children should be able to live in the best circumstances possible.

… Turkey has been striving to assure the best opportunities for its children since the establishment of the Republic, and is a staunch supporter of international efforts to safeguard children’s rights. One of the fundamental objectives of our State is that our children, the greatest asset of our nation, are raised and grow up in the social and economic atmosphere they deserve.

… As both Nation and State, we must equip our children with the knowledge and skills required for the age in which we live, so that we don’t fall behind the 21st century and so that we can improve the lot of our children. In addition, we have a shared accountability in taking under our collective wing our working, homeless, or disabled children as well as children who need protection, and to rehabilitate them.

Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 4:

The State must do all it can to implement the rights contained in the Convention.

In our age, as individuals, as nations, and as states, it behoves us to protect children’s rights regardless of creed, language or race. The effort, which begins with love, will contribute to ensuring that children of the world can live in peace and brotherhood, without concern for their future.

Dear children, you are the most valuable asset of this nation; you are our future. Great Atatürk understood the love of Turkish children for their country and also their diligence. He had full confidence in you when he made a gift of the inauguration of the National Assembly -- the 23rd of April -- to you as your holiday.

… It is heartening to see that you take charge of your own problems, are interested in national issues, seek solutions, and communicate these solutions to the people concerned. This is the essence of democracy and citizenship. As naturally as it is your right to pursue the possibilities of a better life, so it is your democratic right to make every effort to make this pursuit a reality.

In the near future you will govern Turkey and instilling a culture of peace and tolerance in the basis of democracy is of utmost importance today. The measure for this is the affection and respect people will develop for each other.

The world of the future will be one of peace. All peoples of the world will live in understanding, love, tolerance, and knowledge of each other. All of these exalted thoughts will be brought to life by you children as the adults of the future. I congratulate you and wish you success in your endeavours.

Continue to the next section Why a Children’s Forum?

Previous page  |  Next page

ARCHIVE

Search UNICEF Turkey
   

• Advanced Search

This fully illustrated report from The First Children’s Forum, 2000 is also available for download in pdf format. [PDF 417KB]

 * How to use RSS …