[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND CHILDREN'S DAY

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                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 27, 2009

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National 
Sovereignty and Children's Day, an event that is celebrated in the 
nation of Turkey every April 23rd. While this important holiday traces 
its origins all the way back to Turkey's capital, Ankara, in 1923, it 
has gradually taken on tremendous meaning and significance for children 
throughout the world.
  On April 23, 1920, during Turkey's War of Independence, a body of 
Turkish lawmakers known as the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara to 
lay the foundation for a government that was to be a modern, 
parliamentary democracy. They drew upon their already emerging status 
as a liberal and secular Republic to guide them in the creation of 
their vision. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and eventual first 
President of the Republic of Turkey, designated that day as National 
Sovereignty and Children's Day, in recognition of the important role 
that children would play in shaping the country's future. Ataturk was 
the first world leader to take so momentous a step in recognizing the 
contributions of children to their nation.
  In Turkey, National Sovereignty and Children's Day is an official 
public holiday marked by student celebrations that span the entire week 
of April 23rd. Children `govern' Turkey by sending their own 
`representatives' to replace state officials and high ranking 
bureaucrats in their offices. The President, Prime Minister, Cabinet 
Ministers and provincial governors all turn over their positions to 
children's representatives. The children assume some of the real 
responsibilities of legislators by signing executive orders relating to 
educational and environmental policies. Children also replace the 
parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special 
session to discuss children's issues. These symbolic gestures 
demonstrate for children how they are the future leaders of Turkey, and 
remind current leaders that they are responsible for the well being of 
these children and the nation that they will inherit.
  On April 27, 1986, a tradition that began in Turkey was brought to 
the entire world when the UN General Assembly was opened to children 
for the first celebration of World Children's Day. Later that same 
year, the World Children's Day Foundation (WCDF) was established to 
oversee World Children's Day activities. The program's goals were to 
equip children to make a difference in their own lives and the future 
of their communities and nations; bring children of different 
nationalities, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds 
together and to show them that, in spite of these factors, all people 
have much in common; and establish the fourth Sunday in April as the 
internationally celebrated World Children's Day to recognize the 
capability and potential of children everywhere to shape the future.
  Madam Speaker, our children are our most precious resource, and I 
believe we all should join together in commemorating this important 
date dedicated to them. We also should commend Turkey for leading the 
way in being the first government to set aside one day each year to 
honor its children some eighty-six years ago.

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