Curiosity, connection, and discovery filled the air in Ankara as migrant and refugee children and their mothers marked the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Türkiye by learning something truly empowering— their rights.
Through interactive, age-appropriate and playful activities, 19 migrant and refugee girls learned about their fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination, the right to protection from harm, the right to identity, private life and family, the right to education and the right to express their views and be heard. These rights are crucial for ensuring the well-being and development of children.
In addition, each child received a “Passport to Your Rights” – a tool developed by the Council of Europe to introduce children to their rights in a playful manner. This passport not only explains basic rights in a child-friendly way but also introduces the role of the state and international organisations in protecting those rights.
Simultaneously, a parallel session for 16 mothers was conducted, significantly increasing their awareness of their children’s rights and strengthening their capacity to support and advocate for their children's wellbeing.
The event underscored the value of creative and inclusive approaches in educating vulnerable populations about their rights.
The event was organised under the European Union and the Council of Europe joint action “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”, and in co-operation with the action “Fostering Women’s Access to Justice in Türkiye” which are part of European Union and the Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye".
