Press Centre 2009/02/13: Child Rights Syllabus
Turkish universities are advocating for child rights
Photograph by: Bekir Özden © 2009 UNICEF Turkey
More countries expected to follow Turkey’s lead in promoting responsible news reporting on child rights
ISTANBUL — Five Turkish universities are leading the way in European journalism studies by agreeing to introduce a new child rights syllabus into their degree courses.
The child rights syllabus, promoted by UNICEF, has been created, written and designed by the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. A team composed of academicians from Communication Faculties of Istanbul University, Galatasaray University, Gazi University, Ankara University and Anadolu University are currently working on the adaptation of political, social/cultural and legal structure of Turkey.
UNICEF Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States Regional Director, Maria Calivis, 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 issues of the day. This child rights syllabus will provide young journalists with new tools for their profession, we hope, enabling children to be heard and listened to.”
A ceremony was held on Friday, February 13, at Galatasaray University, Istanbul, during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between each of the universities and UNICEF. UNICEF was represented by Ms Calivis and UNICEF Turkey Representative, Reza Hossaini.
The five Turkish universities involved in this project are: Istanbul University; Galatasaray University, Istanbul; Gazi University, Ankara University, Ankara; and Anadolu University, Eskisehir.
Teaching of the syllabus is scheduled to start in September this year following a series of seminars between senior representatives of the five Turkish universities and the creators of the syllabus, led by the Head of Research in the Faculty of Applied Arts at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Dr Brian O'Neill.
Those studying the syllabus earn credit points recognized within European Union universities. Already, a second wave of universities in eastern European countries has expressed interest in teaching this child rights syllabus and it is hoped the experiences gleaned in Turkey will further refine this exciting development in developing the ethics and standards of journalism.
For further information, please contact:
Mervyn Fletcher, Communication Officer, UNICEF CEE/CIS, Tel: +41 22 909 5433
Sema Hosta, Communicaton Officer, UNICEF Turkey, Tel: +90 312 454 1000
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