On the occasion of World Children's Rights Day, the Orphan Foundation (Yetim Vakfı), a leading organization dedicated to the well-being of orphans, hosted the first-ever ‘Social Orphanhood Symposium’ in Türkiye.

This landmark event underscored the plight of social orphans—children whose well-being is not secured despite having living parents and who require love and care.

Murat Yılmaz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Orphan Foundation, opened the symposium by drawing attention to the staggering number of children worldwide deprived of their basic rights. He highlighted that one in five children globally resides in conflict zones or disaster-stricken areas, with over a billion children facing multidimensional poverty. Yılmaz emphasized that more than 200 million children are forced into labor, while countless others live on the streets or as refugees. "We share the same firmament with one billion orphans, abandoned children, and social orphans," he stated, pointing out that this figure represents 40% of the global child population.

The event saw influential figures like Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya, who condemned the current global situation where children are forced to struggle under bombs rather than enjoy their childhood. Mustafa Metin Başbay, Advisor to the Rector of Boğaziçi University, expressed support for the symposium, stressing the importance of raising awareness about social orphanhood for the future.

The symposium featured four sessions attended by academic experts who discussed social orphanhood from various perspectives, including historical, sociological, legal, and religious viewpoints. Internal factors such as technology misuse, exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, and communication problems were explored. External factors like wars, migrations, disasters, and social environments were also examined.

Key topics included effective communication with children, identifying social orphans, and addressing issues like youth suicides and child abuse. The symposium also tackled problems such as substance and technology addiction, miscommunication between parents and children, and loneliness. Experts provided solution-oriented discussions to address these challenges.

In his address, Yılmaz expressed hope that the symposium would be a catalyst for change, urging society to take proactive steps to support social orphans. "If we ask the right questions, we can find the right answers," he noted, emphasizing the need for collective effort to improve the lives of these vulnerable children.

The event concluded with actionable suggestions to combat the challenges faced by social orphans. Topics like young suicides, child abuse, and communication breakdowns between parents and children were explored, offering both immediate and long-term strategies.

The Social Orphanhood Symposium served as a vital platform to raise awareness about the neglected reality of social orphanhood and to foster a collaborative approach toward ensuring every child’s right to love, protection, and dignity. The Orphan Foundation vowed to continue its efforts to address these critical issues and inspire systemic change worldwide. (ILKHA)