Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said an effective social protection system must be established to safeguard every child’s rights, address their needs and help them develop their potential.
Göktaş made the remarks at the World Summit titled "Investing in Children’s Well-Being: A Sustainable and Equitable Path to Development for Future Generations," held in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand.
Children’s well-being is an indicator of sustainable development
Göktaş said economic, technological and social transformations had changed the understanding of development, adding that economic growth should increase social well-being and that the benefits of development should reach all segments of society.
Göktaş said positive changes in children’s lives were among the most important indicators of sustainable development. She noted that access to quality education, healthy development and equal opportunities form the foundation of societies’ future prosperity.
Göktaş said social protection systems should provide more than financial assistance, adding that a structure supporting children’s development and strengthening families was needed. The minister emphasized that social support, education, health and social services should be integrated within a single system.
"Our priority should be to establish a strong social protection system that safeguards every child’s rights, addresses their needs and helps them realize their potential."
Support programs in Türkiye
Göktaş said Türkiye was implementing a comprehensive policy under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan aimed at ensuring children’s healthy development, access to quality education and upbringing in a safe family environment. She said particular importance was attached to meeting children’s needs in a timely manner and strengthening families socially and economically.
Göktaş said the Conditional Education Assistance Program encouraged children to attend school regularly, while additional support was provided for educational materials, transportation, accommodation and nutrition. She noted that the Conditional Health Assistance Program supported children in receiving regular health checkups from an early age.
Göktaş said the Social and Economic Support Program aims to ensure that children grow up primarily with their own families, with their best interests taken into account. She announced that approximately 200,000 children had benefited from the relevant programs as of September. She said financial assistance was complemented by psychosocial counseling and support measures for families.
Emphasis on foster care services
Göktaş emphasized the importance of developing foster care services, which enable children to grow up in an environment of love and security. She said the "Gönül Elçileri" project, carried out under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Erdoğan, aims to raise public awareness of foster care and expand children’s opportunities to grow up in a family environment.
Göktaş said services must be delivered in an integrated manner, systems must be supported by sustainable financing and social investments must be translated into tangible results to make social protection for children more effective. She called for close coordination among social assistance, education, health and social service systems.
Göktaş said the success of public policies should be assessed primarily through real improvements in children’s lives, adding that this approach would help use resources more efficiently and continuously improve existing programs.
Call for international cooperation
Göktaş described the summit in Samarkand as an important opportunity to strengthen children’s well-being on the sustainable development agenda and called on countries to expand comprehensive social protection models. The minister said the financial capacity of these systems should be strengthened and their outcomes assessed on the basis of common indicators.
Göktaş said she hoped the Samarkand Declaration would turn countries’ shared priorities regarding children’s social protection into concrete commitments.
"Türkiye is ready to share its knowledge and practical experience and to develop international cooperation aimed at safeguarding children’s well-being."
Göktaş said societies that create suitable conditions for children and offer them broad opportunities lay the foundation for a more just, inclusive and prosperous world.
