Young civil society after local elections in Turkiye

The interview was conducted for the magazine beyond of the Fachstelle für interantionale Jugendarbeit in Deutschland e.V. and published in issue 01|24. To the free magazine

Özge Erdoğan: What are some of GoFor’s main activities on the municipal level?

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç: Since the regime change in Turkiye, GoFor has adapted its macro-level policy advocacy strategy to the local level. Since there was no example of a local youth policy in Turkiye, GoFor first developed a local youth policy model suitable for the Turkish context. Later, the first example of this model was tried in cooperation with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. After significant successes in terms of local participation in Izmir, the "Local Youth Policy Program" was started in 2024. Currently, Izmir, Antalya and Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipalities will start to implement this program. This program includes the following activities:

• Local Youth Councils and Forums: Facilitating and supporting local youth councils and forums to ensure young people have a platform to voice their concerns and participate in local governance.
• Workshops and Training: Organizing workshops and training sessions for youth rights for municipal youth workers.
• Advocacy Campaigns: Running advocacy campaigns to promote youth rights and highlight issues affecting young people at the municipal level. This includes lobbying for better education, employment opportunities, and youth-friendly policies.
• Youth Participation Programs: Facilitating programs that encourage youth participation in local decision-making processes, including budget consultations and policy development sessions with municipal leaders.

Özge Erdoğan: How did you experience the political situation for youth organizations immediately before the local elections?

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç: After the general elections, there was a general despair in youth organizations and citizens. That's why we focused more on the election campaign. We ran a campaign called “CounttheYouth”. Within the scope of the campaign; GoFor developed a "Youth Manifesto" outlining key demands and policy recommendations for youth. This document was distributed to all candidates and widely publicized. 88 candidates sign "Youth Rights Agreement". This agreement was also signed by CHP and DEM party leaders. This was an important political step for youth rights. Since this agreement also includes the rights of LGBTI+ young people, we were targeted by media outlets close to the government. Our office address was shared in the news. After being targeted, we went through a rapid inspection process by the government.

Özge Erdoğan: Opposition and pro-Kurdish parties have won elections at the municipal level, and for the first time since it was founded, the ruling party has only become the second strongest party. What impact do you expect this change to have on civil society and on your work?

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç: The results of this election primarily changed the belief in change in people. If people don't believe in change, they won't organize. If people are not organized, civil society loses its function. Unfortunately, if we consider the pressure and contraction on civil society in Turkey, this functional problem becomes deeper. This election has shown that there is still hope for change. We believe that this hope is the fundamental catalyst for organizing. In addition, the changes in government created channels for youth organizations to talk about human rights and establish mechanisms that will ensure citizen participation. Opposition parties also understood that the fight against autocracy would not be possible without civil society. We believe that this mutual understanding will be the beginning of the formation of local urban policies in many areas, especially youth.

Özge Erdoğan: In the weeks leading up to the election, GoFor met with candidates and asked them about youth participation at local level. Since the election, has there been any cooperation with the parties that are now in government?

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç: Our cooperation negotiations with Diyarbakır and Mardin Municipalities have started. Together, we are building a participatory cooperation in line with human rights principles. These two cities were governed by trustees for 8 years. After 8 years, these cities that were not governed by elected officials suffered greatly in terms of local participation and human rights. Civil society and elected officials need to make great efforts to repair this damage and restore democratic values. Therefore, we will focus more on these cities within the scope of the "Local Youth Policy Program".

Özge Erdoğan: What are your expectations for the exchange with partner organizations from Germany? How can organizations in Germany support you in your efforts for more democracy and respect for human rights?

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç: Our most important partner in Germany is DBJR. Our main expectation is solidarity, not support. Very recently, together with DBJR, we prepared a motion about the budget cuts and increasing political pressure experienced by youth organizations in Europe. It is very important that examples like this increase. Every year, with the facilitation of DBJR, we have the opportunity to explain the political pressure experienced by young people in Turkey in the German Bundestag. We need more such and similar policy development areas. We have experienced what the radical right can do to a country's civil society. Unfortunately, this risk is also an important agenda for non-governmental organizations in Europe. That's why we need solidarity at an international level, regardless of the country name.

This interview first appeared on 29.08.2024 on ijab.de.

Özge Erdoğan, Vice Chairperson of the German Federal Youth Council. She is particularly active in the fields of European youth policy and bilateral partnerships.

Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç, General Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Turkiye GoFor

Youth Councils in Europe

Most European countries have a national youth council. Youth organizations and associations that are active in various areas of society come together within the youth council. National youth councils are generally characterized by the fact that they are independent and democratically organized. An elected voluntary board of directors often organizes the work of the youth ring in cooperation with a full-time office. The aim of youth councils is to represent young people in all their diversity, to represent their interests vis-à-vis political decision-makers and to shape political education.

The German Federal Youth Council maintains close partnerships with numerous youth councils. One example of these partnerships is the cooperation with the Turkish youth council GoFor. GoFor was founded in Turkey in 2015 and is not recognized as a national youth council by the Turkish government. Nevertheless, its representatives are involved in national youth policy. One focus is political education and work on democracy and human rights. They are also campaigning to be recognized as a youth council in Turkey.