Accountability for Children, Advocacy for Rights (ACAR Project)

Stronger Civil Society for Stronger Accountability on Child Rights in Türkiye: Improving Monitoring, Engagement and Advocacy at Central and Local Levels (short name- Accountability for Children Advocacy for Rights (ACAR)) Project is conducted by UNICEF Türkiye with financial support from the European Union (EU) Delegation to Türkiye under the EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme within the scope of Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III.

Project Aim

Contributing to the advancement of child rights in Türkiye for the improved well-being of all children by creating the space for dialogue on child rights through empowering the civil society organizations in better liaising with national institutions, monitoring the realization of child rights, influencing policymaking, and increasing public support for children's rights at all levels.

Beneficiaries and Stakeholders

The beneficiaries of this project are children and youth in Türkiye, including the most vulnerable ones.

Stakeholders

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Municipalities, National Human Rights Institutions (Ombudsperson, HREIT), Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Union of Turkish Bar Associations and Local Bar Associations, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, Private sector

Target groups

Child/Youth Organizations, and Grassroots Organizations, CSO Networks and Platforms, Citizens Associations, Academia, Think Tanks, Media Outlets, University Students/Academicians

Expected Outcomes and Activities

Outcome I

Civil society actors have improved their capacity to influence more effectively the child rights agenda at the national level

Activities

» Technically supporting the capacity of CSOs working on monitoring, evidence-generation,

reporting and tool development in the field of violence against children, exclusion and discrimination through workshops and advanced training

» Financially supporting the different works of CSOs working in this field

» Organizing thematic coordination and consultation meetings, supporting networks and platforms between CSOs, public institutions, regional and international actors and the private sector to better coordinate with national authorities and influence policy-making processes

» Supporting the capacities of academia and the media through trainings, workshops and different modules and tools to focus more on the discourses of violence, exclusion and discrimination against children and to ensure that these issues are brought more to the agenda

Outcome II

Enhancing the capacities of CSOs and partnerships with municipalities to safeguard and improve child rights, wellbeing and participation at the local level

Activities

» Improving the cooperation and partnership between CSOs and Municipalities

» Supporting the engagement of CSOs to budget and strategy development processes of Municipalities

» Organizing trainings for CSOs and municipalities on the use and development of tools for the protection and monitoring of children’s rights and supporting joint work

» Providing training to CSOs about child-focused budgeting, strategy development, monitoring, and assessment

» Strengthening the capacity of youth and CSOs to participate in local policy, advocacy, and program development processes