International City Councils and Cities Congress, organized with cooperation of UCLG-MEWA, gathered the representatives of local governments and city councils on 14th and 15th April 2016.
“Workshop on International City Councils and Cities Congress” and “City Councils Best Practices Competition” took place on 14th and 15th April 2016 at İstanbul Aydın University, Florya Campus with the cooperation of United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA), İstanbul Aydın University (İAÜ), UNESCO Chair in Cultural Diplomacy, Governance and Education, World Academy For Local Government And Democracy (WALD) and Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS).
The opening of the event took place with the speech of Prof. Dr. Yadigâr İzmirli, Rector of Aydın University and Mustafa Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of İstanbul Aydın University.
“City Councils have to be Activated”.
After the speech of Mustafa Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of İstanbul Aydın Universitiy, Mehmet Duman, Secretary General of UCLG-MEWA and Chairman of the Executive Board of WALD said “as well as the sources that will be transferred from the municipality and private provincial administrations to the city councils, it is very important that the arrangements would be done to encourage the other stakeholders to contribute” by touching upon the financial distresses of city councils. Saying that “the city councils has to be activated”, Mr. Duman highlighted the importance of the establishment of the city councils in the metropolitan cities.
İdris Güllüce, former Minister of Environment and Urban Planning who served in the 61st, 62nd and 63rd Governments of Turkish Republic of Turkey, evaluated the city councils within the framework of city and civilization. Mr. Güllüce said “Local governments that contribute greatly to the development of political maturity and adoption of democratic understanding are the important institutions that enable the locals to participate directly in the decision making processes through the city councils, which allows for the local democracy.”
After the opening speeches, Prof.Dr.Ruşen KELEŞ, Honorary President of the Congress gave an opening lecture with the title “Local Government and Participation”.
Migration and City Problems Were Discussed with WALD
On the first day of the event, conferences took place within the cooperation of İstanbul Aydın University, UNESCO Chair and WALD. The first session “Migration and the Role of Local Governments in Placing the Refugees” was moderated by Zeynep Banu Dalaman, Chairperson of Research Centre of Turkey, with the participation of Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Mayor of Beyoğlu, Hasan Akgün, Mayor of Büyükçekmece, Lokman Çağırıcı, Mayor of Bağcılar, Özcan Işıklar, Mayor of Silivri and Temel Karadeniz, Mayor of Küçükçekmece. Following this session, the session titled “Mayors Discuss the City Councils and City Problems” was held.
The session “Cultural Governance, City and Migration” dated 15th April 2016 was moderated by Prof. Dr. Hatice Deniz Yükseker with the presentations on “Urban Management of Migration: Examples from Europe” by Doç. Dr. Deniz Şenol Sert; “Going or Staying: Human Trafficking in İstanbul and De Facto Integration Scenes” by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayşem Biriz Karaçay; and “Right-Based Approach to Participation and Good Governance in the City” by Hakan Ataman.
UCLG-MEWA Special Award to the City Councils
Best practices competition, in which city councils could participate was organized in six categories, within the thematic workshop section of the “International City Councils and Cities Congress”. UCLG-MEWA Special Award was given to the winners of the competition by Mehmet Duman, Secretary General of UCLG-MEWA.
City Problems and Their Solutions “Overcome it!” category was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Çakmak (Sociologist), with participations of the representatives of Gümüşhane City Council, Bozcaada City Council, Eskişehir City Council and Kocaeli City Council. While the grand prize was received by Kocaeli City Council, while Gümüşhane City Council received the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.
Green Development “Love the Nature, Protect Your Environment!” category was moderated by Sabahattin Çetin, Strategy Development Manager of Silivri Municipality, with the participation of the representatives of Erzurum City Council, Balıkesir City Council, Lüleburgaz City Council and Silivri City Council. Silivri City Council received the grand prize and the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.
Possible Risks in the Urban Setting & The Crisis Management
“Be Ready For Every Possibility!” category was moderated by İlhami Yıldırım, (Member of the Turkish Red Crescent Inspection Committee, Chairman of Turkish Red Crescent Istanbul Branch), with the participation of the representatives of Kocaeli City Council, Yalova City Council, Denizli City Council, Eskişehir City Council and Zeytinburnu City Council. While the grand prize was received by Eskişehir City Council, Zeytinburnu City Council received the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.
Citizen Rights “City is the Freedom!” was moderated by Mehmet MERT, President of the Istanbul Local Journalists Association, with the participation of the representatives of Adana City Council, Didim City City Council, Efeler City Council, Lüleburgaz City Council and Yalova City Council. While the grand prize was received by Lüleburgaz City Council, Efeler City Council received the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.
Urban Integration Of Disadvantageous Group“ Resist To Become Enstranged” category was moderated by Lecturer Özgenur Reyhan Kurtuldu (Bayrampaşa Municipality) with the participation of the representatives of Adana City Council, Buldan City Council, Didim City Council, Gaziantep City Council, Gemlik City Council, Hatay City Council, Karesi City Council and Kocaeli City Council. While the grand prize was received by Adana City Council; Gaziantep City Council, Didim City Council and Kocaeli City Council received the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.
Good Governance in the City: “Love Good Governance and Want it!” category was moderated by Prof. Dr. Ömer Yörük, (Silivri City Council) with participation of the representatives of Budan City Council, Bursa City Council, Eskişehir City Council Gaziantep City Council and Gaziantep City Council. Also, Bihter Erdendoğdu from Centre for Family and Women Support and the Disabled of Zeytinburnu Municipality, Çağla ALTINTAŞ from WALD and Rabia Kocaer from UCLG-MEWA made their presentations in this category. While Bursa City Council received the grand prize, Buldan City Council received the UCLG-MEWA Special Award.