The “26th National Child Forum” has begun in Konya, bringing together children from 12 provinces across Central Anatolia.
Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and UNICEF, the forum was held at a hotel as part of World Children’s Day on November 20. This year’s theme is “Children’s Rights in the Digital World.”
Emre Ertekin, Head of the Department at the General Directorate of Child Services of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, said in his opening speech that they came together to take new steps to protect children’s rights both in the real and digital worlds.
Ertekin pointed out that today, children are not only present in schools, parks, and streets but also within screens, games, apps, and social media platforms. He said:
“The digital world has now become a place where children form friendships, learn, have fun, think, share their ideas, and create a new living space. We need to consider not only the opportunities but also the risks that this new world brings. The digital environment offers children access to information, a chance to develop creativity, and an opportunity to express themselves. However, it also comes with risks such as privacy violations, cyberbullying, exposure to misinformation, and digital addiction. At this point, protecting children’s digital rights becomes a shared responsibility for all of us.”
