The guest of the program hosted by Hatice Kapusuz was Dr. Emrah Kırımsoy, a children’s rights advocate and one of the experienced names in civil society. In this episode, we discussed children's right to organize, the relationship the adult world establishes with children, and why children often have to seek harsher ways to make their voices heard. We listened to the voices of children on many issues ranging from MESEM to child labor, from school violence to child participation.
Additionally, on the program, we debated together what might change if we truly listened to children and put child participation into practice.
Experiences from the field: Who took the microphone?
In this episode where we bring the voice of civil society to the screen, we listened to the experiences of organizations working in different fields.
With representatives from the Stutterers’ Association, Romani Godi, and the Islands Development Association, we discussed why child participation is critical, which areas need transformation to strengthen participation, and their field experiences.
Children speak up for their own rights
One of the program’s most notable guests was the 8 Steps Association founded by children themselves. With the 8 Steps Association, we discussed education policies, rights violations in schools, and to what extent children are included in decision-making processes.
The experience of the 8 Steps Association once again showed that children are not just passive individuals who need protection, but rather subjects who lay claim to rights, speak up, and want to take part in decisions about their own lives.
“Let my words be heard and responded to”
Another guest of Let’s Talk Together was the Sulukule Volunteers Association. In the program, we also talked about how children’s daily lives, their safe spaces, and their relationship with their neighborhood in Sulukule have changed.
Association representatives emphasized that children are not just individuals affected by transformation; they have the right to speak out about their city, neighborhood, and living conditions. While highlighting the importance of truly considering the ideas expressed by children, one of the most fundamental expectations of participation was conveyed with these words: “Let my words be heard and responded to.”
You can watch this episode of Let's Talk Together, where children's rights, child participation, and freedom of organization were discussed, on STGM's YouTube channel.
