Humanitarian journeys cross Turkey-Iran border to advocate for children

Two separate humanitarian and symbolic journeys are underway in Turkey to advocate for children's rights and solidarity with children in conflict zones.

Child development expert Tanyel Süzer has embarked on a 1,000-kilometer ‘Right to Life March’ from the Iranian border toward Kilis. Having reached Cizre in the Şırnak province on the 21st day of her journey, Süzer walks approximately 25 kilometers daily. Her mission is to raise awareness regarding child rights violations, including preventable deaths, abuse, and healthcare access issues. She is specifically focusing on border regions where children face challenges related to war, migration, and limited access to education and social life.

Simultaneously, the ‘Minab Bicycle Caravan’ has departed from Diyarbakır for a 3,000-kilometer journey to Minab, Iran, via Van. Organized by the Bicycle Initiative, the group aims to honor the memory of 168 children killed in an attack on a school in Minab. The cyclists are carrying school bags filled with letters and drawings from children in Turkey to deliver to families in Minab. The caravan also intends to distribute bicycles to children in the region as a gesture of solidarity and resistance.