Çocuk Dostu Kent İdeali: Eleştirel Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Modern kentlerin en savunmasız sakinleri olan çocukların kentlerde karşılaştıkları zorluklara bir yanıt olarak geliştirilen Birleşmiş Milletler Çocuk Dostu Kentler (ÇDK) Girişimi, çocuk haklarını kentsel yönetişimin merkezine yerleştirmeyi amaçlayan küresel bir ideal sunmaktadır. Bu makale, söz konusu idealin teorik çerçevesini, küresel uygulamalarını ve Türkiye özelindeki yansımalarını eleştirel bir perspektifle ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, nitel araştırma yöntemine dayanmakta olup, uluslararası ve ulusal literatür taraması ile desenlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, 2014-2016 pilot projelerinin sürdürülebilirlik açısından zayıf kaldığı, hedeflerin yoksulluk ve şiddet gibi yapısal sorunlar yerine genellikle farkındalık yaratma ile sınırlı tutulduğu ve çocuk katılımı mekanizmalarının sembolik bir nitelik taşıdığı yönündedir. Çocukların kent algısının merkezinde yer alan güvenlik ve nitelikli oyun alanı gibi temel ihtiyaçların karşılanmasında önemli eksiklikler olduğu görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak, Türkiye’de ÇDK idealinin kalıcı bir başarıya ulaşabilmesi için proje bazlı yaklaşımlardan vazgeçilerek, çocuk haklarının kentsel planlama, bütçeleme ve yönetişim süreçlerine sistemik olarak entegre edilmesinin zorunlu olduğu savunulmaktadır. Makale, geleceğe yönelik bir vizyon olarak çocuk dostu akıllı kentler potansiyelini de tartışmakta ve somut politika önerileri sunarak son bulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çocuk Dostu Kentler
• Çocuk Hakları
• Katılım
• Kentsel Yönetişim
• Sürdürülebilirlik

The Child-Friendly City Ideal: A Critical Assessment

Öz

Developed in response to the challenges faced by children, the most vulnerable inhabitants of modern cities, the United Nations Child-Friendly Cities (CFC) Initiative offers a global ideal that aims to place children's rights at the center of urban governance. This article aims to critically examine the theoretical framework, global applications, and implications of this ideal for Türkiye. The study is based on qualitative research methods and is structured using international and national literature. The 2014-2016 pilot projects, in particular, were weak in terms of sustainability, with objectives generally limited to raising awareness rather than addressing structural problems such as poverty and violence, and child participation mechanisms were largely symbolic. Significant shortcomings have been observed in meeting basic needs such as safety and quality playgrounds, which are central to children’s perceptions of the city. Consequently, it is argued that for the sustainable success of the CLC ideal in Türkiye, it is essential to abandon project-based approaches and instead systemically integrate children's rights into urban planning, budgeting, and governance processes. The article also discusses the potential of child-friendly smart cities as a future vision and concludes with concrete policy recommendations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Child Friendly Cities
• Children
• Participation
• Urban Governance
• Sustainability.

Kaynakça

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