THE LATEST NEWS FROM UNICEF TURKEY

Charlie Simpson and His Bike

Charlie Simpson
finishing his tour at
Fulham South Park

Seven-year-old Charlie Simpson has cycled 8 km round Fulham's South Park to raise funds for UNICEF's Haiti Earthquake Children's Appeal. His goal was to raise £500 through his sponsored bike ride but has already raised over £200,000.

Charlie says: "There was a big earthquake and loads of people lost their lives. I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti. Please can you sponsor me and all your money will go to UNICEF. Thank you very, very much!"

Earthquake in Haiti

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale has struck Haiti causing an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Children have been killed and injured — many are in desperate need of clean water, shelter and medical help. Early reports indicate a large number of casualties and widespread damage.
The situation for Haiti was already difficult before the earthquake hit the island. Haiti is the one of the poorest countries in the world and is struggling to recover from years of violence, insecurity and massive natural disasters. More than half of the country's 9.6 million inhabitants are under 21 years of age.
All children have rights — these are most at risk of being denied in emergencies. UNICEF is working to ensure that the rights of children affected in Haiti are not forgotten.

A gift of TL 22 could help us to provide water and a basic water kit to a family.
Please donate to UNICEF's Haiti Earthquake efforts today.

UNICEF has been working in Haiti since 1949. We rely entirely on voluntary contributions and receive no funding from the United Nations budget.

UNICEF’s State of The World’s Children report commemorates 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

NEW YORK, November 19, 2009 — A special edition issue of UNICEF's flagship The State of the World's Children report, tracking the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the challenges that remain, was released today on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption by the UN General Assembly.

“The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified human rights treaty in human history,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “It has transformed the way children are viewed and treated throughout the world.”

Turkish Parliament launches State of the World’s Children report and Child Rights Monitoring website

Left to right: UNICEF Representative Reza Hossaini, General Director of Social Services and the Child Protection Agency İsmail Barış, Minister of State Selma Aliye Kavaf, Speaker of Parliament Mehmet Ali Şahin, Prof. Cevdet Erdöl, head of the parliamentary Child Rights Monitoring Committee, and European Commission Turkey Delegation Counsellor Ewan Marteil.

ANKARA, November 19, 2009 — Children to help monitor child rights - via the web.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) marked the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with a launching ceremony for UNICEF’s new State of the World’s Children report and for its own child rights monitoring website.

Turkish universities champion child rights
More countries expected to follow in promoting responsible news reporting of children

Photograph by Oktay Üstün / November 2009 / 4663
Dublin Institute of Technology participated in the ceremony by live video feed

ANKARA, November 6, 2009 — Seven Turkish universities are leading the way in European journalism studies by teaching a new child rights syllabus as part of their degree courses.

UNICEF Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States Regional Director, Steven Allen, said: “The rights of children, their right to expression, to have a say in matters affecting them, to have their opinions heard, are all too often either ignored, or unknown, in news reporting. This child rights syllabus will provide young journalists with new tools for their profession, and we hope it will enable children to be more readily heard and listened to.”

UNICEF: Without a protective environment, it’s a harsh life for children
UNICEF releases groundbreaking Report Card on Child Protection

TOKYO, 6 October 2009 — While progress is being made in reducing some violations of children’s rights, not enough is yet known about the extent of abuses against children. Violence and exploitation remain a harsh reality in the lives of many children around the world.

Millions of boys and girls around the world are subject to trafficking, are without parental care, or lack documentation they need to attend school and access basic health care. Millions more are forced to work under harmful conditions, while others face violence or abuse in their homes, in their schools, in their communities, in institutions or while in detention, often from the adult entrusted with their care.

These issues are reviewed in a new UNICEF report -- “Progress for Children: A Report Card on Child Protection,” -- released by UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman in Tokyo today.

ECONOMIC CRISIS AFFECTING THE WELFARE OF FAMILIES IN TURKEY
A new survey of households in Turkey’s five largest urban centers shows how families are affected by the economic slowdown and how they cope to make ends meet in difficult times

ISTANBUL, September 29, 2009 — The economic slowdown, through lower incomes and higher unemployment, has affected the lives of the majority of families in the five largest urban centers in Turkey: Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Kocaeli. Almost three quarters of families report reductions in income between October 2008 and June 2009, according to a new survey of 2100 households, jointly sponsored by TEPAV, UNICEF and the World Bank.

THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE WELFARE OF FAMILIES:
RESULTS FROM FIVE URBAN CENTERS IN TURKEY

ANKARA — The economic slowdown, through lower incomes and higher unemployment, has affected the lives of the majority of families in the five largest urban centers in Turkey: Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Kocaeli. A new survey of living conditions in these cities shows that almost three quarters of families report reductions in income between October 2008 and June 2009. Among the poorest families at the onset of the crisis, more than 90 percent reported such a decline in their income. One third of the interviewed poor families have fallen behind in utility payments, and 9 percent have lost their electricity connection, at least temporarily. Families report they adjust to lower incomes by reducing food expenditures so that other vital expenses – like education – can be protected. Many poor urban families say they have mobilized support from neighbors, friends, family, their community, and public programs to make ends meet. And quite a few families say they have borrowed money. Yet families state that these survival rings are becoming thinner. About one-fifth of the poorest families say they have been left without any support.

THE RIGHT TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND CHILD FRIENDLY SCHOOLS FOR ALL CHILDREN

TURKEY — UNICEF’s message on the opening of the 2009-2010 school year

At beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, UNICEF would like to wish all Turkey’s children and teachers success and happiness in their studies and in their careers.

We would also like to commend Ministry of National Education and school administrators throughout the country on the work which they have been doing to provide a quality education for all of the country’s children. We hope and trust that they will redouble their efforts in this direction in the days and months ahead.

UNICEF ON ALERT AFTER ISTANBUL FLOODS

ISTANBUL — Turkey is undertaking extensive relief work following the flood disaster which killed at least 31 people, including at least two children, in the northwest of the country in the second week of September.
Istanbul and other settlements in the surrounding region were hit by some of the heaviest rainfall for 80 years. Roads were submerged and thousands of homes were flooded. Several people are still reported missing.
The livelihoods of the survivors are also at stake as the damage to properties and businesses is being counted in tens of millions of dollars.
Low-lying districts west of the city centre of Istanbul were the worst affected by the disaster, but homes also had to be evacuated and vehicles abandoned in many other settlements in the region, as well as in other parts of Turkey.

UNICEF SUPPORTS EXPANSION OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN TURKEY

Minister of National Education Nimet Çubukçu (centre) with Undersecretary Muammer Yaşar Özgül (left) and UNICEF Turkey Representative Reza Hossaini (right)
Photograph by: © 2009 UNICEF Turkey

ANKARA — UNICEF has welcomed the Turkish government’s adoption of a plan to ensure 100% enrolment in pre-primary education among five year-olds in 32 out of the country’s 81 provinces in the 2009-10 school year.

The governors and directors of education of the 32 provinces gathered in Ankara on June 11 to hear Minister of National Education Nimet Çubukçu underline the importance of the initiative. Governors are to be responsible for providing physical facilities while the Ministry will provide teachers and equipment.

“The pre-school education period is a very important period when the child develops rapidly and forms basic habits and skills,” the minister explained. She called on public officials, non-government organizations, the media and ordinary citizens to contribute to making the project to expand pre-school education a success. Parents need to become more aware that the cognitive development of children begins at a very early age, she added.

Previous page |

WORKING WITH UNICEF

UNICEF Turkey seeks candidates for employement under the European Commission funded project "Strengthening Pre-School Education" for the following positions;

1. Project Officer (Pre-Scool Education)
2. project Officer (Community Based Day Care & Pre-School Education)

STRENGTHENING PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION Project Fiche

20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.