Diyarbakır City Council is setting up a Children’s Assembly with the aim of supporting children’s active participation in urban life and making Diyarbakır a child-friendly city.

Ahead of the founding declaration of the Children’s Assembly on 25 May, the City Council Executive Board held a press conference at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre. Speaking at the event, which was attended by members of the Executive Board, City Council Secretary General Selvi Tunç announced that they would establish the Children’s Assembly to support children’s active participation in city life, to create avenues for them to become subjects of social life, and to transform Diyarbakır into a child-friendly city.

Assembly to be declared on 25 May

Emphasising that the aim is to create free, multilingual and democratic spaces where children can express themselves, Tunç said:

“Direct participation of children in decision-making processes concerning their city is not only a requirement of the right to participation, but also an indispensable element of a democratic society based on children’s rights. The founding meeting of the Children’s Assembly will take place on 25 May 2025 at 14:00 at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre. Following the meeting, comprehensive information about the functioning, work plan and participation methods of the Children’s Assembly will be shared with the public.”

Drawing attention to the fact that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child explicitly defines the “right to participation”, Tunç continued:

“It guarantees that children have a say in the society in which they live, that their views are taken into account, and that they effectively participate in decision-making processes. In this context, the Children’s Assembly to be established will not only serve as a platform for representation, but also as a structure where children can voice their experiences, needs and solutions, and where they will have the power to influence policies.”

‘Children Will Set Their Own Agenda’

Highlighting the shortcomings in children’s access to social, cultural and public spaces in Diyarbakır, Tunç continued:

“The loss of functionality in parks and cultural centres, the underdevelopment of consultation and participation mechanisms for children, negatively affect the quality of life of children living in the city and limit the spaces where they can express themselves. At the same time, in Diyarbakır, which has a multicultural and multilingual structure, there remains a lack of democratic platforms where children can express themselves in their mother tongue. Addressing these shortcomings is of great importance for them to build a strong bond with the city. For these reasons, the Diyarbakır City Council Children’s Assembly aspires not only to be symbolic, but also a structural and transformative step. Through this Assembly, children will set their own agenda, contribute to decision-making processes, and take responsibility in city governance.”

‘Children’s Voices Will Be Louder’

Inviting all segments of society to be witnesses and supporters of this meaningful process, Tunç added that through the Assembly, the voices of children would be heard more strongly.

Children aged 9 to 15 have been invited to take part in the founding of the Assembly, which will be declared on 25 May at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre.