In cooperation with Özay Günsel Children’s University and Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts, 144 students from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus participated in the “Human Rights for Children (#Kids4HumanRights) International Painting Competition” with their artworks.

Representing the TRNC, 144 students studying at Near East Primary School, Near East College, Dr. Suat Günsel Kyrenia Primary School, Dr. Suat Günsel Girne College, Near East Yeniboğaziçi Primary School and Near East Yeniboğaziçi College attended the contest.

Competitors compete in the competition consisting of three different categories, they presented artworks that reflected the human rights they defended, a human rights defender they admired, and their thoughts on defending or promoting human rights.

“Kids 4 Human Rights International Painting Competition”, which was organized for the first time in 2018 to highlight the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, aims to increase children’s awareness of human rights and express important concepts about human rights through painting.

The application process of the competition, which had a longer application process for the first time this year, started on December 10, 2022, and was completed on October 31, 2023. Painting workshops continued during the long application process to ensure a long-lasting impact. Upon completion of the application process, the winners of the Kids 4 Human Rights International Painting Competition will be determined through the jury evaluation.

Anna Günsel: “On World Children’s Rights Day, which we celebrate in the shadow of wars, the right we must demand with the strongest voice for all children of the world should be the right to live in peace.”
Reminding that World Children’s Rights Day symbolizes an important day that focuses on the rights of children and their ability to live a healthy, safe, and full-of-education childhood, Anna Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Özay Günsel Children’s University, said: “We want children all over the world to have equal rights and live in a safe environment. We are very happy to allow our country’s children to be represented in the ‘Human Rights for Children International Painting Competition’, an international awareness event, on this special day, which is an important awareness day to ensure their growth.”

Reminding that human rights are the cornerstone of building a world based on peace and justice among societies, Anna Günsel said, “Thus, it is our common responsibility to ensure that children have access to these rights and to guarantee their education, health, and security. On World Children’s Rights Day, which we celebrate in the shadow of wars, the right that should be demanded with the strongest voice for all children of the world should be the right to live in peace.”