The date of 23 April 1920 on which Grand National Assembly of Türkiye was founded was declared as National Sovereignty and Children's Day by Veteran Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and was dedicated to children of the world as a symbol of the value shown to children and rights of children. Our country has become party to international conventions with a view to protect children and their rights and has made lots of legislative regulations at national level on the point of guaranteeing and effectively protecting the rights of children.
United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child which was signed by Türkiye in 1990 is one of the most important steps at global level regarding the rights of children. According to the Article 3 of the Convention which has four fundamental principles namely "Non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the right to life and development and the right to participate," "States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status."
Protection and promotion of children's rights are also regulated in the Constitution and respecting the principle of the best interests of the child in all kinds of activities and actions done regarding children has been given constitutional guarantee. According to the Article 41 of the Constitution with the title line "Protection of the family, and children’s rights," "The State shall take the necessary measures and establish the necessary organization to protect peace and welfare of the family, especially mother and children, and to ensure the instruction of family planning and its practice. Every child has the right to protection and care and the right to have and maintain a personal and direct relation with his/her mother and father unless it is contrary to his/her high interests. The State shall take measures for the protection of the children against all kinds of abuse and violence." In Article 61 of the Constitution, children were listed among those who need special protection from the point of social security, and it was provisioned that the State shall take all kinds of measures for social resettlement of children in need of protection. In the third paragraph of Article 10 of the Constitution with the title line "Equality before the law," it was stated that measures to be taken for children shall not be considered as violation of the principle of equality.
Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye continues to carry out its work regarding protecting the best interest of the child in any case and fulfill the requirements of the importance given to children's rights in international and national legislation. Our Institution will keep on maintaining its sensitivity on promoting and protecting children's rights in its works.
Our Institution, main mission of which is to promote and protect human rights, prevent discrimination, and raise awareness on this issue is celebrating 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day with the hope that the world will become a place where all children can enjoy all their rights on the basis of the principle of equality.
Respectfully announced to the public.