THE LATEST NEWS FROM UNICEF TURKEY

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.

WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR MARKS THE NEED TO TACKLE THE WORST FORMS OF EXPLOITATION

Photograph by: Sema Hosta
© 2009 UNICEF Turkey

UNICEF: Educating girls is one key to the solution

GENEVA, 12 June 2009 – On the tenth anniversary of the World Day against Child Labour, UNICEF joins its partners in calling for action to tackle the underlying poverty that leads to child labour. Improving access to quality education, particularly for girls in poor and rural settings, is a key part of an effective overall approach.

Around the world, many of the estimated 100 million girls involved in child labour undertake similar types of work as boys, but often also endure additional hardships and face extra risks. Moreover, girls are all too often exposed to some of the worst forms of child labour, often in work situations that are out of sight, hidden behind the walls of factories, deep in fields or behind the doors of their own homes.

“Many girls work in the same sort of agriculture and manufacturing jobs as boys do, but girls carry a higher burden by taking on long hours for unpaid household inside the home and working elsewhere,” said Susan Bissell, UNICEF Chief of Child Protection. “What the public does not see is the domestic work done in other households – this exposes young girls to other dangers and risks.”

CATCH-UP EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Catch-up education targets children between 10 and 14 years age, who are at compulsory schooling age but were not able to complete their education at the same time as their peers.

More specifically, the target group includes those children who

have never been enrolled in school
have dropped out or being a non-attender
are at least 3 grades behind their peers

The purpose of catch up education programme is to allow these children to gain necessary skills in a short period of time, which will allow them to have a second chance in education.

Please click here to read more about Catch-up Education Programme.

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
GENERAL COMMENT NO. 7 ON IMPLEMENTING CHILD RIGHTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD (2005)

While Committee on the Rights of Children has been reviewing the reports of member states, it observed that in many cases, very little information has been offered about early childhood, with comments limited mainly to child mortality, birth registration and health care. The Committee felt the need for a discussion on the broader implications of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for young children. Accordingly, in 2004, the Committee devoted its day of general discussion to the theme “Implementing child rights in early childhood”. This resulted in a set of recommendations as well as the decision to prepare General Comment No. 7 Implementing Child Rights In Early Childhood on this important topic. Through this general comment, the Committee wishes to encourage recognition that young children are holders of all rights enshrined in the convention and that early childhood is a critical period for the realization of these rights. The Committee’s working definition of “early childhood” is all young children: at birth and throughout infancy; during the preschool years; as well as during the transition to school.

Please click this link to download and read the full document.

Previous page |

WORKING WITH UNICEF

Request for Proposal: Design and implementation of a media mobilization campaign fighting micronutrient deficiency

UNICEF on the ground in Myanmar delivering critical supplies

Some 130 UNICEF technical and operations staff continued to travel to the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis today, identifying the greatest threats to children and women and delivering much–needed supplies.