Children’s Rights in Focus: Parliament’s General Assembly Convenes with Kids
The General Assembly of the Republic Assembly convened with the participation of children with the agenda of “Child Rights”.
As part of the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebration activities, a special session for children was held in the Parliament.
In accordance with the distribution in the Parliament, a total of 50 students from the country’s schools, equal to the number of deputies from each district, sat in the seats of the deputies and took the floor in the General Assembly.
In their speeches, which started by giving information about their region and school, the students drew attention to children’s rights; They pointed out that there are inequalities among children and expressed their demands from adults.
Along with the students, the President of the Assembly of the Republic Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, some other ministers, members of parliament and teachers were also present at the General Assembly of the Assembly along with the students.
In his opening speech, Zorlu Töre gave information to the students about the Assembly of the Republic.
“Töre said, “Republic is sovereignty. The Assembly of the Republic is the place where sovereignty is represented. The Turkish Cypriot people also receive their sovereignty from this Assembly.” said.
Noting that today is children’s day and that students will serve as deputies in today’s General Assembly, Töre said that some of the students here will sit in these seats as deputies in the future.
Stating that the Turkish Cypriot child will be better prepared for the future by knowing their history and past, Töre stated that the first duty should always be to protect sovereignty”.
Following the ceremony, Şht. will act as the chairman of the General Assembly. Tuncer Primary School 5th grade student Gözen Kaçak took it. Addressing other students from the Parliament Speaker’s seat, Gözen Kaçak first read the Turkish Child’s Oath and was accompanied by the students sitting in the parliamentary seat in the General Assembly.
Gözen Kaçak then made a speech stating the meaning and importance of the day, emphasizing that the basis of freedom, equality and justice is national sovereignty, and thanked Atatürk.
Stating that unity and solidarity were strengthened on April 23, differences were celebrated and solidarity was maintained, Gözen Kaçak stated that today’s day not only raises awareness of children’s rights, but also contributes to world peace.
Gözen Kaçak said, “Happy Eid, with the hope of living in a more beautiful world where we can smell the flowers of love, friendship and peace to our heart’s content,” and opened the special session.
Then Mustafa Ömer Ateş, a student from Tatlısu Primary School, read the Declaration of Children’s Rights, and Cemre Harun from Çamlıbel Aysun Primary School sang the poem “I Have Two Flags”.
The General Assembly on “Children’s Rights” continued with the speech of a student from each district.
Aslı Öztaşlı, a student of Nicosia Necati Taşkın Primary School, stated in her speech that they were proud and happy to celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, and noted that although children know each other’s differences while playing, they get along without thinking about these differences. Aslı Öztaşlı called for all adults in the world to act like them.
Famagusta Şht. Osman Ahmet Primary School student Ayşe Derin Tuncelli, in her speech, drew attention to the importance of implementing the principles in the Declaration of Children’s Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1924, reminded that there are friends with different languages, religions and races in schools today, and hoped that these children would be approached with tolerance.
Girne Ağırdağ-Dağyolu Primary School student Eylül Mercan listed the rights of children such as benefiting from social security opportunities, growing up in good health and development, and noted that societies should create various programs and support systems in order to provide these rights to children, and stated that only in this way can children fully reveal their potential.
Gülistan Ünalan from Güzelyurt Fikri Karayel Primary School, in her speech, said that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, “Children are the assurance of our future and our joy of life. “It is our duty as a human being to raise our children today to be tomorrow’s adults.” Pointing to his words, he reminded the importance Atatürk gave to children.
Rabia Miray Korkmaz from Iskele Dipkarpaz Primary School, in her speech, emphasized that children’s rights are an innate right and stated that all kinds of measures should be taken to ensure these rights and children should be given the necessary importance.
Duru Ülkü Şansalan, a student of Lefke Yedidalga Primary School, said in her speech that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said to the children, “You are a rose, star and light of fortune of the future. You are the ones who will shine the real light on the country. Consider how valuable you are and work accordingly.” He included his words. Duru Ülkü Şansalan said that, as children, they want a world where there is brotherhood and peace in every field.
Following the speeches, the special session of the General Assembly of the Parliament ended.
Deputies and children took a commemorative photo in front of the Parliament building.
