Joint Call From 52 NGOs: “Turn Your Faces to Children”

Civil Pages Civil Pages Headline
Sivil Sayfalar
15 Mayıs 2020
In the joint statement signed by 52 NGOs, it is requested to meet the basic needs of refugee / asylum-seeking children at the borders such as sheltering, nutrition and health as well as ensuring their transportation to safe areas with their parents.

In the declaration of “Turn Your Faces to Children” signed by 52 institutions working in the field of children and advocating rights, it was reminded that there are developments that directly affect and target children at border crossings and at irregular crossing points.

In the declaration stating that the developments regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is described as a pandemic by the World Health Organization are followed with anxiety in Turkey, the following has been written: “We insistently and stubbornly remind that the starting point should be the best interests of the child in situations that directly affect children! We demand that decision-makers and practitioners direct their actions in relation to children, especially at border crossings and irregular crossing points, in line with the Convention on Children’s Rights of which the Turkey is also a party and which has completed its 30th year.”

The declaration states that the following measures should be taken initially:

  • Ensuring that children reach safe areas with their parents as soon as possible.
  • Facilitating their access to protective, preventive and therapeutic healthcare in an hygienic environment
  • Meeting their basic needs such as shelter and nutrition
  • No discourses or news on children which marginalize and polarize and which are competitive and nurturing a culture of violence

Signatories

  1. Yıl Initiative
  2. Ankara Gökkuşağı Aileleri Association
  3. Ankara Women’s Platform
  4. Ankara Medical Chamber
  5. Antakya Women’s Solidarity
  6. Antalya Medical Chamber
  7. Ardıç Solidarity Association
  8. Biz Association of Researches On Sexual Orientation and Sexual Identity
  9. Çanakkale Medical Chamber
  10. Network of Lawyers Working in the Field of Children
  11. Young Network of Lawyers Working in the Field of Children
  12. Çocuk Heryerde Association
  13. Defne Public Initiative
  14. Diyarbakır Bar Association Center of Children’s Rights
  15. Dünya Evimiz International Solidarity Association
  16. Education Union Antalya Branch
  17. Education Union Çanakkale Branch
  18. Monitoring For Equal Rights Association
  19. FİSA Center of Children’s Rights
  20. Immigration and Humanitarian Relief Foundation
  21. Immigrant Solidarity Kitchen
  22. Günebakan Women’s Association
  23. Rights Initiative Association
  24. Halkevci Kadınlar
  25. Hatay Direniş Renkleri
  26. Hatay Women’s Labor Collective
  27. Hatay Kadınlar Birlikte Güçlü
  28. Hatay Kampüs Oluşumu
  29. Hatay Mor Kampüs
  30. Hatay Psychologists’ Association
  31. Hayat Ağacı Women’s Cooperative
  32. HDK Immigration and Refugee Comission
  33. Human Rights Association Commission of Children’s Rights 
  34. Human Rights Agenda Association
  35. İzmir Buca City Council
  36. Women Protection Network
  37. Mersin 7 Renk Education and Research Association
  38. Mersin Medical Chamber
  39. Rengârenk Umutlar Association
  40. Romani Rights Association
  41. Union of Health and Social Services Workers
  42. Social Services Experts Association
  43. Socialist Women Assemblies
  44. Suruç Families Initiative
  45. Tarlabaşı Community Center
  46. Turkish Psychologists’ Association
  47. Uğur Özkan Children’s Cultural Center
  48. Veli-Der
  49. Yaşam Bellek Özgürlük Assocation
  50. Women and Arts Association In Life
  51. New Democrat Woman
  52. Zan Foundation for Social, Political and Economic Studies