Chldren First Project in Turkey

1. children first
Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey
Periodic Report, issue: 01/06
in this issue … • putting children first
• children’s thoughts
• a very big team
• my family … our future
• working together
Improving child care and protection in Turkey March 2006

2. putting
children first
Impoverishment, exploitative labour, sexual abuse, harassment and
exploitation are unfortunately typical gross child rights violations that
millions of children face every day around the world. The Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC) was devised to protect children from such violations
by ensuring that every action societies and families take on behalf of children
is first and foremost in their best interests.
Commitment to the CRC obliges signatory states to ensure that policy,
legislation and services for children reflect the principles of the Convention
and contribute to the creation of a protective environment that will ensure
the healthy growth and development of every child. As the official title
Towards Good Governance, Protection and Justice for Children in Turkey
Upgrading of the Juvenile demonstrates, Children First aims to help Turkey build a protective
Justice System involved a environment for her children. The seed of Children First was planted in
rehabilitation– based Turkey when the Government commenced harmonisation with international
response to children in standards through the Upgrading of the Juvenile Justice System project with
contact with the law that the support of the European Commission.
both respects their rights
and offers solutions that The Upgrading of the Juvenile Justice System project contributed to changes
would help prevent them for children that were reflected in a new child protection law in 2005 — an
reoffending important year for legislation on children in contact with the law in Turkey.
The new code, along with amendments to the penal law, raised the minimum
age of criminal responsibility from eleven years to twelve and significantly
accelerated the judicial process for juveniles.
Other important developments under the new legislation include:
• specialised treatment for children in contact with the law;
• numbers of courts specialised in handling cases involving children have
been increased;
• the introduction of an alternative sanction allowing probation for children
in place of detention;
• increased presence of social workers during the judicial process.
The project also increased the capacities of all ministries and agencies
concerned with the judicial process to protect children from abuse,
exploitation, neglect and violence. The project involved the Ministry of Justice,
the Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHÇEK), the Ministry of
Interior, the Bar Association and the Youth Re–autonomy Foundation.
Activities under the mantle of the project enhanced the capacities of members
of the Child Rights Commissions in fifty–two Provincial Bar Associations,
roughly four hundred personnel in Ministry of Justice institutions, two hundred
and fifty specialists in forensic medicine, forty probation officers and increased
the awareness of parliamentarians on issues related to juvenile justice.
More legal assistance was provided to child victims of abuse and violence and
also to children in contact with the law. Child Rights Commissions in fifty–two
2 Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey

3. Building upon progress
of the Provincial Bar Associations now provide legal aid to children who are made in upgrading the
victims of crime and who are otherwise in contact with the law. In general, the Juvenile Justice System,
outreach capacity of the Child Rights Commissions was increased by 90 per Children First will focus
cent. Regarding incidence of children in contact with the law since 2002: on prevention by working
to reintegrate children
• 67 per cent fewer children have been deprived of their liberty; with their families
• 80 per cent fewer children are serving sentences in reformatories.
Public awareness of the right of disadvantaged children to be protected from
violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation — one of the cornerstones of
Children First — has become more widespread and the media have begun to
treat the issue with more sensitivity.
Work with the Child Rights Commissions surpassed the expected results.
Apart from supplying legal services to disadvantaged children, the
Commissions have adopted a much stronger role in monitoring respect for
children’s rights and they are currently in the process of establishing
independent monitoring units across Turkey that will be composed of
inter–sectoral groups of child protection experts.
The current climate of political stability, economic growth and social and
institutional change has created an unprecedented opportunity to fulfil the
promise of projects such as Upgrading the Juvenile Justice System in Turkey
and the Say Yes for Children campaign. Their success led to the Secretariat
General for EU Affairs (SGEU), the European Commission Delegation (ECD)
and the Government of Turkey initiating the Towards Good Governance,
Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey project or Children First which
the Government will implement with technical support from UNICEF.
Throughout the development of the project, both the Secretariat and the ECD
provided full support, guidance and commitment to the promotion and
protection of children’s rights.
It is hoped that through Children First, Turkey will see a continuation of the
work to improve juvenile justice and a change in child care and protection
that should set the country firmly on the way to protecting and promoting
the rights of boys and girls and bring the country closer to the standards of
the CRC and the EU.
Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey 3

4. children’s
thoughts
The official title of the project, Towards Good Governance, Justice and
Protection for Children in Turkey, is clear in its meaning but it is difficult to
remember easily and it was felt that something shorter was needed in order
to attract popular attention. Everyone involved, from the project partners
through to the general public and children themselves were
consulted on the development of a short title and logo. SHÇEK,
with the support of UNICEF, showed some ideas to
participants at the Sixth Children’s Forum in November and
asked the children for their first impressions at this
Eflref: “It’s nice to see important step in the development of the project identity.
a family in the
picture” “It seems to me,” said twelve–year–old Eflref from
Yalova, “that adults only ask our opinion, as children, at
events like this. It’s nice to see a family in the picture —
we need a good example of how they should behave with
their children. Families should support their children.”
Twelve–year–old Merve from I¤d›r said: “Adults need to listen
to what children are saying. They shouldn’t ignore us just
because we’re young. That’s why I like the
picture of the little girl on her daddy’s shoulders
— she looks as though she’s saying
something and the rest of the family are
not just listening to her — they’re paying
attention!”
Twelve–year–old fierife liked the idea
of seeing a family as well: “it’s all
about respecting our rights as children
isn’t it? And I think that the most
important rights are health and
education. After that I think that children
need to be protected from violence and
war. I reckon that the Government
can do a lot to protect us from these
things but I suppose the best place to
start protecting children is within the family.
fierife: “I like the one “I like the one with the roof over their heads — isn’t that
with a roof over their where a family belongs?”
heads”
Eleven–year–old Emine from Bitlis, twelve–year–old Ak›n
from Mufl and fourteen–year–old Gurbet from fi›rnak
preferred an image with more movement: “Like
something is happening and there’s something to be
excited about. Also the colours should be bright and strong.”
Centre page:
Emine, Zeynep and
Gurbet: “More action
shows something to be
excited about”
4 Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey

5. Thirteen–year–old Cengiz
from Samsun
suggested an
umbrella over
the family
might suit,
Cengiz: “An umbrella rather than a roof: “I’ve been Özge: “Maybe the
means shelter — you can living in an institution since I family could be
take it anywhere” was two and I worry about closer together
what will happen when I’m too then we could
old to stay there — will I be living on the street when I’m make them
eighteen? That’s why I like the idea of an umbrella — like the bigger”
roof it means shelter but you can take it anywhere with you.”
Fifteen–year–old Özge from Bursa wanted to see something a
little bolder: “the figures are a bit hard to make out. This will be
quite small sometimes, won’t it? So it might
work better if we can bring the family closer
together. Then we could make them bigger
and easier to see if they’re on a badge or
something.”
Thirteen–year–old Ömer from Mardin
said: “The important thing is that
people get the message about child
protection when they see this.”
“Maybe we should have meetings like
this more often where we can be heard
— not just in Turkey but everywhere in the
world.”
Ömer: “The important
thing is that people
remember the message
about child protection”
Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey 5

6. ... a very
big team
The Government of Turkey’s new child protection project, begun in August
2005, was officially launched on the 20th January 2006 at the Hilton Hotel in
Ankara. Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in
Turkey or Children First, as it is known by its shorter title, will see the
beginning of a change in child care and protection in Turkey where the rights
Ambassador Hansjörg of all boys and girls — especially the most disadvantaged — will be upheld.
Kretschmer,
European Commission Children First is a broad ranging, multi–sectoral project involving the
Delegation to Turkey Government, the European Commission, the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), various NGOs, children and parents.
The unprecedented scope of partners in Children First was reflected by the
attendance of Abdülkadir Aksu, Minister of Interior; State Minister Nimet
Çubukçu; Ambassador Hansjörg Kretschmer, Head of the European
Commission Delegation to Turkey; Edmond McLoughney, UNICEF
Representative in Turkey; Professor Nejat Birinci, Undersecretary of MONE;
‹smail Bar›fl, General Director of SHÇEK and Judge Ekrem Bak›r, Deputy
General Director of Prisons, Reformatories and Detention Centres — all of
whom delivered keynote speeches introducing the project. The launch was
also attended by Head of the Turkish Bar Association, Özdemir Özok as well
as various government agencies, NGOs and academics.
Minister of Interior, Abdülkadir Aksu welcomed the inception of Children
First, saying that “it is the responsibility of both the state and its various
ministries working closely together with NGOs and other concerned
agencies, and of course the families themselves to protect all children and to
ensure that they have access to education, good health care, nourishment
and a protective environment.”
Abdülkadir Aksu,
Minister of Interior
In the words of State Minister Nimet Çubukçu, “We are a very very big team,
working together for a common cause — the best of all causes — a better
future for children and their families everywhere in Turkey which is without a
doubt the best possible future for Turkey herself.”
Commenting from the perspective of the European Union’s core values of
human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Hansjörg Kretschmer
expressed his hope that Children First: “would help bring legislation in
Turkey closer to EU policy on child care and protection and the standards of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)”. Mr Kretschmer stressed
that “respect for children’s rights means protection from abuse and
exploitation everywhere”.
Speaking on UNICEF’s technical involvement in Children First, Edmond
McLoughney said that the project would “increase opportunities for children
everywhere in Turkey by improving policies and programmes, improving
systems of care and protection and addressing issues of abuse and neglect
which no child should experience”. McLoughney highlighted the project’s
focus on reducing disparity both within the family and the country as a
Edmond McLoughney, whole, saying that: “every individual in Turkey should have the opportunity
UNICEF Representative to be healthy, well nourished, well educated, protected, living in a nurturing
in Turkey family environment and able to participate in community and family life”.
6 Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey

7. On behalf of MONE, Professor Nejat Birinci underlined the educational focus State Minister Nimet
of Children First, noting that “education is the first step towards developing Çubukçu, UNICEF Child
our gifts and talents as individuals” and proceeded to stress that “our role as Protection Officer, Bürge
parents is essential to our children’s future happiness and productivity and Hayran and Programme
that we should imbue them with the love for knowledge that only the Coordinator, Lila Pieters
example of our patient understanding and faith in their ability as individuals
can achieve.”
Speaking of the objective of Children First to reduce institutionalisation of
children without parental care, General Director of SHÇEK, ‹smail Bar›fl made
the point that: “We are including every child in Turkey with Children First —
whether they are living with their families, in institutions or on the streets of
our towns and cities — and we aim to protect them from violence and abuse
both on the street and wherever they may live and also to prepare them
physically and psychologically for a better future.
“Children First is a real first for Turkey and her children.”
Speaking for the justice system, Judge Ekrem Bak›r observed that “the judicial
system can only benefit by a comprehensive understanding of those it judges
and that we should relish the prospect of a judiciary that is better equipped
with the necessary tools to respect the child’s lack of maturity when he or she
comes into contact with the law and to make allowances as such.”
In a vehement speech advocating for a more rounded understanding of ‹smail Bar›fl, General
children’s rights, Judge Bak›r pointed to the fact that “only by Director of the Social
protecting the child’s rights as an individual from birth can Services and Child
society effectively reduce the likelihood that the child will not Protection Agency
come into contact with the law and take practical steps to
avoid the possibility.”
Pop star Do¤ufl, an ardent advocate of children’s
issues especially children living and/or working on the
street, said that: “I believe that any issue concerning
any child is important and I am here to support this
endeavour to the very end. Today marks an important
start for children in Turkey. I’m deeply moved by the
participation of the various ministries and agencies
such as UNICEF in this event and I hope that we can
make just as good a finish in the end and make a real
difference for children in Turkey — whatever their situation,
whether they be rich or poor.”
Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey 7

8. my family
... our future
A crucial element of the Children First project strategy is to develop a
comprehensive range of child–sensitive models for services related to children
and one approach to achieving this focuses on the family unit itself. The
Family and Child Training (FACT) Programme has been re–configured as My
Family–FACT with the aim of reaching a third of parents and care–givers,
especially in poor urban and remote rural areas, and training them in positive
child–rearing practices.
During one of the first Master Training sessions in Mersin at the end of
Safiye fiahin: “Educating October, a group of FACT trainers from various project provinces were
children within the family provided with extra training and teaching material aimed at improving
helps reduce many typical education for families with children under six years of age.
conflict situations”
Safiye fiahin, Teacher, Sar›yer Public Education Centre, ‹stanbul
“We had training in family education before but this has been a shorter,
more compact and topical exercise. Previously the focus was primarily on the
mother but now the role of father is also taken into account since we have
found that it is much better to look at the family as a unit. Educating children
within the family helps reduce many typical conflict situations. The mother’s
traditionally protective role towards the children can sometimes create an
odd kind of tension within the family where the father is alienated but this
method unites all of the family members in mutual understanding.”
Zahide Gözüayd›n,
Teacher, Mersin Public
Education Centre
“This new training is
especially useful for
low–income and
disadvantaged families but it
can be easily applied to any
family regardless of
background or income.
Although most parents
attending our public
education centre are
fiermin Aksakal Vilday: mothers, we are very keen to
“Parents will be better encourage the involvement
able to appreciate the fine of fathers. That way it would
details and needs of their be much easier to balance
child from one stage of parental awareness of the
development to another” protective environment
between both parents.
“The mother’s position within
the family also becomes stronger as her lines of Zahide Gözüayd›n:
communication with her husband are “Although most parents
strengthened. The parents are better able to attending our courses are
provide support for each other and of course mothers, we are very
the children can only benefit from their enriched keen to encourage the
relationship at the same time.” involvement of fathers”
8 Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey

9. fiermin Aksakal Vilday, Teacher, FACT Trainer
“The goal is for parents to be better able to appreciate the fine details and
needs of their child from one stage of development to another. When parents
realise the differences in these stages, they can take the necessary steps to
meet the child’s needs. Parents feel generally stronger, more competent and
rather less helpless and confused because they know what to do when it
comes to improving a child’s health, nutrition and development.
“Individuals who know how better to look after their personal needs and the
needs of those closest to them contribute to a stronger, more stable and
understanding community structure. When parents are able to moderate
their behaviour for the sake of their children, there is a ripple effect
throughout their community and society at large.”
Ümmühan Acar, Teacher, Alanya Public Education Centre
“This training is very important because it is aimed at parents of children
under six years of age — a very sensitive stage of their development in every
respect. I plan to go from house to house, letting parents know what the
training is about and that it is available for them to take part at their local
public education centre. Already we have a number of regular attendees at
our centre and I’m hoping that we can reach a greater number of families Ümmühan Acar: “This is
through these people — by word of mouth, so to speak.” a great way to show
parents how they can
Nihayet Uçlu, Teacher, Antalya Public Education Centre really help their children”
“Family training is very much concerned with the general education and
development of society at the same time. So the My Family–FACT
Programme will have a concrete effect on societal development in the future.
It is quite possible for us, as parents, to have a negative influence on our
children without necessarily raising a hand to them in violence — there are
many subtle ways in which we can hamper a child’s development without
being aware of what we are doing.
“It is an unfortunate truth about human nature that some of our most natural
behaviour or responses to our
children can be damaging to
them. So I’m very happy to
be taking part in this training
seminar both as a mother
because I am more confident
about my future relations
with my children and also as
a teacher because I look
forward to sharing what I
have learned with other
trainers and other parents.”
fiehzade Polat, Teacher,
Yozgat Public Education Nihayet Uçlu: “It’s quite
Centre possible to have a
“By teaching the parents negative influence on our
about problem–solving in children without raising a
human relationships and hand to them in violence”
behaviour, we are equipping
them with the tools to help
their children resolve their
own problems and issues in a
fiehzade Polat: “Fathers forthright and independent manner without
and mothers will be having to resort to external agencies such as
equipped to provide a counsellors, teachers, community leaders. At
more protective the same time, both fathers and mothers will be
environment for their equipped to provide a more protective
children” environment for their children.”
Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey 9

10. working
together
Sharing a common goal to improve child protection in Turkey, the diverse
group of representatives from Government Ministries, NGOs and academics
that make up the Children First project management team share an equally
diverse range of abilities and experience. A crucial step in reaching the
ultimate goal of Children First was to look at the working relationship
between the various sectors and ensure the success of the project by
developing the individual strengths of those involved into an effective team.
In order to achieve this synergy, a three–day workshop was organised in
K›z›lcahamam near Ankara in November for twenty participants from the
Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of National Education, the Social Services
and Child Protection Agency, the Gendarmerie, the Security General
Directorate and the Turkish Bar Association.
The workshop, based around the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,
sought to provide a foundation for strengthening individual performance at
the personal, interpersonal, managerial and organisational levels by
equipping team members with the tools and skills to work at optimum levels
of effectiveness — both as a group and individually.
Using a combination of talks, video presentations, personal and group
exercises, the workshop developed over its three–day course under the
following themes:
• Be proactive by taking the initiative, keeping commitments, being
responsible, accountable and exerting a positive influence on results.
• Begin with the end in mind by developing vision, establishing the mission,
setting goals, aligning goals to mission priorities and focusing on outcomes.
• Put first things first by following strategy, focusing on important priorities,
defining tasks to achieve goals, prioritising tasks and using planning tools.
• Think positively and improve working relationships, collaborate effectively,
resolve conflicts and make positive performance agreements.
• Seek first to understand and then to be understood through persuasive
communication, defusing tense situations, listening effectively and provide
productive input and feedback.
• Synergise by making positive use of diversity, working together creatively
on problems, valuing differences and developing innovative solutions.
• Sharpen the saw by practicing continuous improvement and self–renewal.
The workshop was generally considered a success by all who were involved
since the opportunity for participants to work together personally provided a
strong and productive start for the project. Practical exercises around the
development of Children First communication materials were of immediate
benefit in developing the project identity and promotional literature that was
used to launch the project.
10 Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey

11. what’s
happening?
The multi–layered structure of Children First is best demonstrated by the
variety of activities underway in support of the project goal of improving
child care and protection in Turkey.
Early Childhood Development
Revision of the Family and Child Training (FACT) package, now called My
Family, has been completed and is currently being piloted with a view to
nationwide expansion following assessment later in the year. MONE and
SHÇEK received training in the package during the latter half of 2005.
Recruitment of an international consultant to oversee new pre–school
education curriculum and communication tools is underway.
Parenting for 7–19 year–olds
UNICEF recruited a team to oversee development of a parenting programme
for older children and adolescents in January. A consultative group of
experts and NGOs will provide technical advice and support to the team as
they develop the package.
Education
Research on catch–up education will shortly begin at the national level to
determine the distribution of children who are out of school in terms of age,
gender, socio–economic background of family, and institutions responsible for
their well–being. The study will also measure the knowledge, skills and attitude
levels of the children.
Catch–up education is in preparation — MONE has begun work in February
on the implementation model following an “Information and Experience”
meeting in Ankara in January. At the meeting, government officials, NGOs,
academics and international speakers convened to draft principles and
discuss the best means to develop and implement catch–up education in
Turkey. The principles will be used as a guide by MONE.
Child Protection
UNICEF has begun recruitment for a team of 7 national and 5 international
consultants who will do research to improve policy making and help bring
about legislative and institutional changes in support of child protection.
A workshop aimed at strengthening the skills and capacity of the Judiciary to
deal with children with specific problems such as drug abuse and anger
management is planned for early March.
A coordination, evaluation and planning meeting on the subject of
strengthening the juvenile justice system was held in December involving the
Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Prisons, administrators from 22
Ministry of Justice Institutions and representatives from 18 Provincial Bars.
The meeting provided a forum to strengthen communication and
coordination between administrators of institutions and lawyers.
A meeting with parliamentarians regarding draft legislation on institutionalisation
of children and monitoring children’s rights is planned for early March.
Children First: Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey 11

12. children first
What will Children First achieve?
Through Children First, Turkey is committed to ensuring that the
protective rights of all boys and girls are fully met.
Children First will reinforce institutional responses to the increasing
incidence of child abuse, neglect and deprivation of parental care with
systematic research, monitoring and data collection, preventive
measures and more policies and legislation in favour of child protection
by:
• increasing the capacity of professionals working in child justice and
protection to promote and protect children’s rights;
• establishing alternative mechanisms of dispute resolution for
children in contact with the law;
Print Yorum Matbaa
• giving children who are outside of the education system a second
chance to catch up;
• promoting gender equality at all levels of society;
• reducing the worst forms of child labour;
• establishing preventive mechanisms, including family mediation and
alternative models of care and protection;
• promoting caring, family environments rather than institutional
Design
placements for children who are not living with their parents or
caregivers;
• establishing minimum standards of care and protection for children
who are living in institutions and in foster care;
• increasing the life–skills capacity of adolescents so that they enjoy
their rights and are aware of how to protect themselves.
The success of Children First will contribute to the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals, especially the goal of section VI of the
Millennium Declaration on protecting the vulnerable, and also support
implementation of reforms in the area of children’s rights that will bring
Turkey closer to full compliance with the standards of the CRC and the
EU.
This project is implemented by the Government of Turkey with financial support from the European Union and technical support from UNICEF
United Nations
Children’s Fund