Film by Advocates of Silenced Turkey spotlights hidden victims of Turkey’s post-2016 crackdown
Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST), a New Jersey–based human rights organization, is bringing its multi-award-winning documentary “The Other Children” to a global online audience with a free YouTube premiere on United Nations World Children’s Day.
The film, which has already received awards from several international festivals – including Best Human Rights Film at the Cannes World Film Festival – will be streamed publicly on YouTube for the first time on:
- Sunday, November 16
- 12:00 PM (US Eastern Time)
- 8:00 PM (Türkiye)
- 6:00 PM (Central Europe)
📺 Live Stream Link:
https://youtu.be/px0XAvKOXIU
Children at the Center of a Human Rights Crisis
“The Other Children” (Öteki Çocuklar) tells the stories of children whose lives were devastated by Turkey’s sweeping crackdown following the failed coup attempt of July 2016. Produced by AST and Humankind Productions, the film follows 13 children from families targeted under Turkey’s state of emergency and decree laws (KHK), giving them space to describe, in their own words, what it means to grow up branded as “the other.” Advocates of Silenced Turkey+1
The documentary weaves together intimate interviews, family footage and observational scenes to show how policies formally aimed at adults—teachers, civil servants, journalists, judges, civil society members—have in practice punished their children as well. The children speak about:
- Parents suddenly disappeared in the night and later found in prison or in exile
- Schoolyard bullying and social stigma after their families were labeled “terrorists”
- Dangerous journeys across borders as refugees
- Growing up in an atmosphere of fear, secrecy and uncertainty
Rather than focusing on statistics alone, The Other Children puts faces and names to an ongoing rights crisis that is often discussed in purely political terms.
Stark Numbers Behind the Stories
Alongside the human stories, the documentary highlights striking data compiled by rights groups and monitoring organizations:
- 93 children, including 21 infants, are reported to have lost their lives in connection with post-2016 human rights abuses and related conditions.
- More than 3,000 children have spent critical early years inside Turkish prisons with their mothers, many of whom are detained on broadly defined terrorism charges.
- Thousands more have been forced to leave their homeland, undertaking perilous journeys or living in legal limbo as refugees and asylum seekers in different parts of the world. Advocates of Silenced Turkey+1
These figures are presented in the film not as abstract numbers, but as the backdrop to the lived experiences of the featured children and their families.
From Emergency Decrees to Lifelong Trauma
After the failed coup attempt in July 2016, Turkey declared a prolonged state of emergency and issued more than thirty decree laws (KHK) that led to the mass dismissal, detention and prosecution of tens of thousands of people. Advocates of Silenced Turkey
Teachers, judges, police officers, academics, business owners and civil servants were removed from their posts, often without due process. Many were arrested or forced into exile. Families were stripped of income, healthcare, social security and sometimes even basic legal identity.
“The Other Children” focuses on how this politicized purge spills over onto children, who:
- Lose access to stable housing, education and healthcare
- Are separated from one or both parents due to imprisonment or forced migration
- Internalize societal stigma and are bullied or excluded by peers
- Suffer long-term psychological trauma and a deep sense of insecurity
By giving the children space to speak, the documentary reframes Turkey’s post-2016 crackdown as not only a political or legal issue, but a profound children’s rights crisis with generational consequences.
International Recognition and Festival Journey
Since its completion, The Other Children has been screened at human rights–focused festivals and community events across several countries. According to AST and partner outlets, the film has: Politurco.com+3Turkish Minute+3BoldMedya+3
- Won “Best Human Rights Film” at the Cannes World Film Festival
- Received multiple awards in categories such as
- Best Documentary
- Best Social Impact Film / Project
- Best Director (at various festivals)
- Been screened in cities including New Jersey, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Toronto, Sydney, Ottawa, Cherry Hill, Pittsburgh, Long Island, Utah, and Philadelphia
At these screenings, audience members—including local officials, academics, activists and faith leaders—have reportedly described the film as both emotionally devastating and urgently necessary, noting that it exposes a dimension of the Turkish crisis that is rarely visible in mainstream media.
Who Are Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST)?
Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New Jersey, USA. Registered under EIN 83-1568246, AST campaigns for human and civil rights with a focus on Turkey, documenting violations, supporting victims and raising awareness in international forums. X (formerly Twitter)+3Advocates of Silenced Turkey+3Advocates of Silenced Turkey+3
AST’s work includes:
- Documenting torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and unfair trials
- Preparing reports and case files for international human rights bodies
- Organizing documentaries, exhibitions and conferences to amplify the voices of victims
- Running advocacy campaigns that encourage decision-makers, media and the public to take action
Before The Other Children, AST also supported projects such as “Metamorphosis: Women’s Resilience to Oppression in Türkiye”, focusing on women’s stories of persecution and resistance. Advocates of Silenced Turkey
With this new documentary, AST turns the lens squarely on children—those who neither designed policies nor took political positions but who nonetheless bear the consequences.
First-Ever YouTube Premiere on World Children’s Day
Although The Other Children has already traveled through festivals and special screenings, this will be the first time the documentary is made freely accessible worldwide on YouTube.
Screening Details
- Date: Sunday, November 16
- US (Eastern Time – New York): 12:00 PM
- Türkiye: 20:00
- Europe (Central): 18:00
📺 Live Broadcast Link:
https://youtu.be/px0XAvKOXIU youtube.com
The premiere is organized to coincide with United Nations World Children’s Day, underscoring the message that children’s rights are universal and non-negotiable—regardless of their parents’ identities, beliefs or political opinions.
Call to Action: “Be the Echo of Their Voices”
AST is inviting viewers, journalists, human rights defenders and ordinary citizens alike to:
- Watch the documentary during the live premiere or afterward
- Share the film link on social media and messaging platforms
- Engage by leaving comments, questions and messages of solidarity
- Use relevant hashtags such as #TheOtherChildren and #ÖtekiÇocuklar to increase visibility
The organization emphasizes that awareness is often the first step toward accountability and reform. By watching and sharing the film, viewers help ensure that these stories of pain, resilience and hope are not buried in statistics or forgotten behind political rhetoric.
Official Social Media Posts
For ready-made content, visuals and trailers, AST has released official posts on multiple platforms:
- X (Twitter):
https://x.com/astturkiye/status/1987944966841397597?s=48 - Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4qL2_gYyy/?igsh=OHRvcmg0OWVwbTUw - Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16hoxeE5nT/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A6Gf8yfyX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
