While declaring the establishment of the Children’s Assembly, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak drew attention to children’s rights, stating: “Children have the right to speak, to take action, to generate ideas, and to be present and participate in all activities.”
Diyarbakır City Council has established the Children’s Assembly to support children’s active participation in urban life and to make Diyarbakır a child-friendly city. The 1st Ordinary Meeting of the Children’s Assembly was held at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre with the participation of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak, district municipality co-mayors, children aged 9–15 and their families, and members of the City Council Executive Board.
Children took part in the presiding committee. In the meeting, children expressed their views on the aims and objectives of the Assembly, stating that they felt great happiness and excitement at its establishment.
‘Everything you say will be the beginning of change’
The opening statement of the meeting was read by City Council Secretary General Selvi Tunç. Emphasising that they had come together today for a very exciting assembly, Tunç said:
“Everything you say here is important. Regardless of whether big or small, every thought is valuable to us. Sometimes you may not know where to start or may feel confused, but that is no problem at all. Sharing an idea requires courage, and today you are showing that courage here. Everything you say to make our city a better place will be the beginning of change. Today you will hear a lot about the right to participation. The right to participation does not only mean that children are listened to, but that they are truly heard. You can be not only those who ask questions, but those who generate solutions. This Assembly exists precisely for that purpose.”
Co-Mayor Bucak: Your presence here is very precious to us
Co-Mayor Serra Bucak began her speech by greeting the audience in Kurdish and Turkish. She said:
“Your presence here is very precious to us. For me, it is also very exciting. I am a municipal co-mayor who, for many years, has worked with children like you, children of your age. For many years, together with you and with friends like you, we carried out work in municipalities, children’s institutions and children’s associations in the field of children’s rights and in many other areas. Today, I would also like to thank everyone who has contributed, the Amed Children’s Rights Network and the Diyarbakır Children’s Rights Network. To all of you here today who fill this hall as members of the Children’s Assembly, who say, ‘I too am a member, I too have a voice, I too have things to say,’ I want to say: thank you for being here.”
‘Children’s voices are not a favour, they are a right’
Referring to the statement in the opening text of the meeting, “Children’s voices are not a favour, they are a right”, Co-Mayor Bucak said:
“Children have the right to speak, to take action, to generate ideas, and to be present and participate in all activities.”
When Co-Mayor Bucak asked, “Do we promise to strengthen this right together here in Diyarbakır, as the Children’s Assembly, as the City Council?” the children responded, “Yes.”
