Children's Rights Addressed with Academic Discourse in Üsküdar

An event titled “Academic Discourse on Children's Rights” was organized by the Haydi Tut Elimi Club, Talent Awareness Club, Social Psychology Club, and Special Talented Children Application and Research Center (ÖYEMER), operating under the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health, Culture and Sports Department (SKS). At the event, the historical development of children's rights, the importance of child policies, children's psychological protection needs, and the effects of rights violations were comprehensively discussed by experts. While the contribution of children growing up in a safe and supportive environment to social development was emphasized, adult responsibility in cases of neglect and abuse was underscored. 

The program, held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Çarşı Campus Emirnebi Conference Hall, was attended by Rector's Advisor, Director of the Special Talented Children Application and Research Center (ÖYEMER) Halide İncekara; ÖYEMER Deputy Director, Lecturer Elif Konar Özkan; Positive Psychology Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Fatma Turan; Secretary General of Haydi Tut Elimi Association Ayşe Banu Güngenci; and Psychologist İrem Su Yavuz. 

Halide İncekara: “Child policies have become one of the most important actors”

Speaking at the program, Rector's Advisor Halide İncekara explained her reason for focusing on children's rights as the realization that negative outcomes stem from a single bad cause. Stating that the root of the negativities she observed over the years as an economist and businesswoman lay in how generations are raised, she emphasized that she focused her work more on generations rather than gender. 

İncekara emphasized that a child has a right upon the state and society from the moment they are conceived; “If a child grows up in a healthy, safe, and self-confident environment, we will have better screenwriters, politicians, bureaucrats, and academics.” she said. 

With this perspective, she stated that since 2000, she has become one of the most important actors in child policies, never giving up on her work despite many obstacles and marginalization. She stated that children often cannot find a place on the political agenda because they do not vote, emphasizing that regulations are made on behalf of these invisible and unprotected children.

Dr. Lecturer Fatma Turan: “I believe we will touch beautiful hearts”

The opening speech of the event was delivered by Positive Psychology Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Fatma Turan. Turan said; “I sincerely thank my esteemed lecturer Halide, who has contributed invaluable assets to our country and even the world regarding Children's Rights. I believe we will touch beautiful hearts; we receive that energy from you. Hopefully, we will accomplish many wonderful things together.”

Lecturer Elif Konar Özkan: “Adults are responsible for protecting children's rights”

ÖYEMER Deputy Director, Lecturer Elif Konar Özkan, spoke within the scope of the program. Özkan drew attention to the strong foundations of children's rights in Turkish culture, stating that boys and girls have historically been considered to have equal rights. 

Özkan emphasized that a child is a trust within the family and that adults are responsible for supporting their rights to development, participation, and talent, adding that the value given to children has not changed throughout the period from the Seljuk Empire to the Republic. Özkan stated that the emphasis on play, freedom of speech, and respect by 9-year-old Ahmet Münir, who spoke in the Musavver Hukuk-u Etfal Journal in 1914, is still valid today, and that Atatürk strengthened this understanding with the establishment of the Himaye-i Etfal Cemiyeti (Society for the Protection of Children) and the declaration of April 23rd as Children's Day. 

Stating that children's rights are not a charity but a universal right, she expressed that adults are responsible for protecting children's rights to life, development, and participation. 

İrem Su Yavuz: “The more we protect them, the safer tomorrow will be”

In her speech, Psychologist İrem Su Yavuz explained why children's psychology is so fragile, stating that trauma and rights violations keep a child's nervous system constantly on alert, leading to reactions such as freezing, nightmares, hypervigilance, and PTSD. Yavuz stated that because the amygdala develops earlier than the prefrontal cortex in the brain, every experience children have leaves a neurological trace, emphasizing that a child's most fundamental need is safety. 

Yavuz stated that one of the most common forms of neglect today is unlimited screen exposure, and that lack of stimulation can negatively affect brain development, leading to developmental delays in children; “A child might spit in your face while working; this is a behavior to test trust.” she said, emphasizing that different authority figures conduct safety assessments for children.

She stated that in cases of abuse and violence, the brain cannot process the caregiver becoming both a source of threat and trust, thus it is critical to get down to the child's eye level, not to blame, and to convey the message 'I am here to protect you' when communicating with the child. Yavuz stated that it is sufficient to report a suspicion without searching for evidence; “Our children are the guarantee of our future. The more we protect them today, the safer tomorrow will be.” she said. 

The activities of Haydi Tut Elimi Association were explained

Haydi Tut Elimi Association Secretary General Ayşe Banu Güngenci stated that the association has been supporting child victims of neglect and abuse since 2010 and works in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services. 

She also reported that support for young people leaving institutional care and various social responsibility projects carried out throughout the year are ongoing.
The organized program concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and a group photo session.