Policies of local governments for children in Turkey: The Example of Kütahya

Efforts are made by local governments so that the cities governed by their policies become more livable for children. Such efforts are expected to follow a due course towards the targets set by the central government and the local governments. However, children are unable to benefit adequately and equally from the services offered by the public sector. Certain deficits have been observed in the legislation and governing policies. This prevents the formation of the conditions required for children to exercise their rights as the builders of the future. It rests with the local governments as well to ensure that children grow to become educated, healthy, socioeconomically sound, and happy individuals. Therefore, both municipalities and city councils serve a function in identifying children's needs and taking their demands into account. This is because of the necessity to involve children in the decision-making and executive mechanisms at local level. The fulfilment of such necessity will put forward a management structure and cooperation that fits into the reason for the presence of city councils. This paper discusses the applications practiced at the level of local governments in order to make sure that child rights are permanently integrated into policies. In that scope, an analysis is made of the work performed by Kutahya municipality and city council regarding child rights and wellness of children. The activities under review include not only the work aimed at children but also such preferences as planning, resource utilization, data collection and capacity development. Key Words: Child Rights, Municipality, City Council, Kutahya