Turkey: UNICEF remotely marks Children’s Day amid virus

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – Every year on Nov. 20, worldwide celebrations are held by the UNICEF and its partners to promote child rights on the occasion of Children's Day.

However, this year due to the ongoing pandemic events across 190 countries will be held remotely.

To mark the day, Turkey’s historical buildings and sites including the Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul, Atakule tower in capital Ankara, the Fairytale Castle in northwestern Eskisehir, as well as the world-famous archaeological site in the southeastern Anatolia Gobekli Tepe are to be illuminated with blue lights tonight.

Additionally, the Republic Museum in the capital, the ancient Hattusa Walls in Corum, the Patara Ruins in Antalya, the Ephesus Library of Celsus and Temple of Hadrian in Izmir and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum are also going to be lit up.

UNICEF's art exhibition is sharing artwork submitted by children from around the world on social media platforms.

For its Play Initiative, the organization will aim "to unearth the children’s potential, skills, and creativity, utilizing an online play.”

A closing ceremony will be held at the Turkish parliament by the National Children's Forum. Young delegates will attend the event remotely. Senior Turkish and UNICEF officials will also be there.

Newly appointed Turkey representative for UNICEF Regina De Dominics marked the day saying: "Today and everyday there should be space for children to speak up, demand their rights and show the world their boundless potential."

Meanwhile, UNICEF in a recent report urged the international community to avert “a lost generation as COVID-19 threatens to cause irreversible harm to children’s education, nutrition and well-being.” The fresh report noted the significantly growing effects for children worldwide with the pandemic entering its second year.

“It shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, infections are rising and the longer-term impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation of children and young people can be life-altering,” said the report.

UNICEF’s Executive Director Henrietta Fore told in the report that “the longer the [COVID-19] crisis persists, the deeper its impact on children’s education, health, nutrition and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk.”

“Globally, the number of children living in multidimensional poverty – without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water – is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent, or an additional 150 million children by mid-2020,” adds the report.

The coronavirus has claimed 1.36 million lives worldwide and infected 56.9 million since last December.

Measures, such as curfews and travel bans, to stem the spread of the virus affected economic activity dramatically all around the world.