IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 235 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 15, 2011 Mr. Towns submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing April 23 as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey.

Whereas, on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara to lay down the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern Republic of Turkey; Whereas following the signing of the Lausanne Treaty on July 24, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, began the task of establishing the institutions of the new state of Turkey; Whereas Ataturk declared that April 23 would not only be National Sovereignty Day, but would also be designated Children’s Day; Whereas Ataturk made such a designation as an acknowledgment that he was entrusting in the hands of the youth the protection of [Turkey’s] sovereignty and independence; Whereas this was believed to be the first time that any government dedicated a day to children; Whereas every year since April 23, 1924, this day has been celebrated as a national holiday in Turkey; Whereas on Children’s Day, children stand in for high ranking government officials and replace parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly to conduct the nation’s business and undertake debates on matters of concern to children; Whereas over the last 20 years, Turkish officials have sought to internationalize children’s day by extending invitations to children globally to participate in the nation’s festivities on that day; and Whereas the importance of Children’s Day has been recognized by the international community with UNICEF designating this day as International Children’s Day and with more than 60 nations participating in the celebration of International Children’s Day every year: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)acknowledges the importance of honoring our children and welcomes United States participation in International Children’s Day; (2)thanks the Government and citizens of Turkey for being the first to recognize the importance of children to the nation and the world; and (3)congratulates the people of Turkey for the vibrancy of their parliamentary democracy.