National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, celebrated every year on 23 April, marks the first session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in 1920, during the Turkish War of Independence.
A law passed in 1921 officially made the date a national holiday, recognising it as a foundational moment in establishing legislative sovereignty in the newly founded state.
In 1929, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dedicated the day to children, laying the foundations of what would later become “Children’s Day”.
The decision was historic, placing children at the centre of national celebrations and reflecting the Republic’s vision of the next generation as the guarantors of national sovereignty.
Over time the occasion underwent several legal and institutional revisions. In 1935, under the Law on National and Public Holidays, the day was officially named “National Sovereignty Day”.
In later amendments in 1983 it was renamed “National Sovereignty and Children’s Day”, a title reflecting its dual identity as both a political milestone and a celebration of childhood.
The process of turning 23 April into an international event began in 1979, when children from six countries were invited to Türkiye to take part in the celebrations.
The initiative gradually expanded, turning the occasion into a global platform where children from many countries gather in Türkiye every year as a symbol of peace, friendship and cultural exchange.
According to archival documents held by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the roots of the day are deeply intertwined with the early formation of parliamentary government.
These documents highlight the opening ceremony led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, accompanied by prayers and nationwide celebrations, and his early emphasis on transferring authority to the will of the nation.
Today, 23 April is both a historical reference point and a living tradition. It continues to reflect the principles of national sovereignty while reinforcing Türkiye’s unique global role in dedicating a national holiday to children and sharing it with the world.
Every year the day is celebrated across Türkiye with a wide range of nationwide programmes that place children at the heart of public life, held in institutions, cities and public spaces around a variety of themes.
