Examine individual changes

'{{refimprove|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox holiday |holiday_name = National Sovereignty and Children's Day |type = National |image = |caption = |observedby = {{flag|Turkey}} |duration = 1 day |frequency = annual |scheduling = same day each year |date = 23 April |celebrations = |relatedto = }} '''National Sovereignty and Children's Day''' ({{lang-tr|Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı}}) is one of the [[public holidays in Turkey]]. :"Egemenlik kayıtsız şartsız milletindir." or『Hakimiyet bilâ kayd u şart milletindir.』 :"Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the people." :[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] ==Background== [[File:Ataturk-23-4-1929-celebrations.jpg|thumb|225px|[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] (mid) in [[Ankara]] on the "Day of National Sovereignty", present-day the "National Sovereignty and Children's Day", on April 23, 1929.]] This national day, April 23 Children's Day, in Turkey is a unique event. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, made a present of April 23 to all the world's children to emphasize that they are successor of the future.<ref name="tbmm"/><ref name="s1"/> It was on April 23, 1920, during the [[Turkish War of Independence|War of Independence]], that the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|Grand National Assembly]] met in [[Ankara]] and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern republic from the ashes of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Following the defeat of the [[Allies of World War I|Allied invasion forces]] on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] on July 24, 1923, Ataturk started his task of establishing the institutions of the new state. Over the next eight years, Ataturk and his followers adopted sweeping reforms to create a modern Turkey, divorced from her Ottoman past. In unprecedented moves, he dedicated the sovereignty day to the children and entrusted in the hands of the youth the protection of this sovereignty and independence. == April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day == Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate this "Sovereignty and Children's Day" as a national holiday. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation. Among the activities on this day, the children send their representatives to replace state officials and high ranking civil servants in their offices. The [[President of Turkey|President]], the [[List of Prime Ministers of Turkey|Prime Minister]], the cabinet ministers, provincial governors all turn over their positions to children's representatives. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.<ref name="ht1"/><ref name="hdn1"/> [[File:Children'sDay07.JPG|thumb|225px|left|Children from [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] performing folk dance on the street on the "National Sovereignty and Children's Day" at [[Beykoz|Beykoz, Istanbul]] in 2014. ]] Over the last two decades, the Turkish officials have been working hard to internationalize this important day. Their efforts resulted in large number of world states' sending groups of children to Turkey to participate in the above stated festivities. During their stay in Turkey, the foreign children are housed in Turkish homes and find an important opportunity to interact with the Turkish children and learn about each other's countries and cultures. The foreign children groups also participate in the special session of the Grand National Assembly. This results in a truly international Assembly, where children pledge their commitment to international peace and brotherhood. The importance of April 23 as a special day of children has been recognized by the international community. [[UNICEF]] decided to recognize this important day as the [[International Children's Day]]. ==Sources== {{reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="tbmm">{{cite web |url=http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/kultursanat/23_Nisan.htm |publisher=TBMM Kültür, Sanat ve Yayın Başkanlığı |title=23 Nisan |language=Turkish |accessdate=2015-04-23 }}</ref> <ref name="s1">{{cite news |url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/yasam/2015/04/23/23-nisan-ulusal-egemenlik-ve-cocuk-bayrami-mesajlari-ve-siirleri |newspaper=[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]] |title=23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı – Mesajları ve şiirleri |date=2015-04-22 |language=Turkish |accessdate=2015-04-23 }}</ref> <ref name="ht1">{{cite news |url=http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1069217-95-yildir-ayni-heyecan |newspaper=[[Habertürk]] |title=95 yıldır aynı heyecan |date=2015-04-23 |language=Turkish |accessdate=2015-04-23 }}</ref> <ref name="hdn1">{{cite news |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-celebrates-sovereignty-day-childrens-day-on-april-23.aspx?pageID=238&nID=81447&NewsCatID=341 |newspaper=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |title=Turkey celebrates Sovereignty Day, Children’s Day on April 23 |date=2015-04-22 |accessdate=2015-04-23 }}</ref> }} ==External links== {{Commonscat|23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day}} {{Turkish Holidays}} [[Category:National holidays]] [[Category:Public holidays in Turkey]] [[Category:April observances]] [[Category:Children's Day]] [[Category:Spring (season) events in Turkey]]'