13th INTERNATIONAL CHILD AND YOUTH LITERATURE SYMPOSIUM
“Harmful Publications Directed at Children / The Relationship Between Children's and Young Adult Literature and Psychology”
23–24 October 2026 | Kars, TÜRKİYE
Since 2014, the Child and Youth Literature Writers' Association has organised the International Child and Youth Literature Symposium every October. The symposium has become a well-established international academic event that meets recognised standards for international participation and scientific publication.
The 13th International Child and Youth Literature Symposium will be held on 23–24 October 2026 in Kars, Türkiye, bringing together scholars and experts from numerous countries.
The main theme of this year's symposium is:"Harmful Publications Directed at Children / The Relationship Between Children's and Young Adult Literature and Psychology."
The symposium aims to provide an international platform for scholarly discussion on harmful publications targeting children, as well as the interaction between psychology and children's literature. Researchers and specialists from the fields of children's and young adult literature, psychology, educational sciences, communication, and related disciplines are invited to contribute their perspectives.
This symposium will be one of the first international scientific events in Türkiye and participating countries to place harmful publications directed at children and the relationship between psychology and children's literature at the centre of academic discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas on:
the effects of harmful publications on children, families, and society;
the use of children's literature in projects promoting positive or negative social change and transformation;
the contribution of literature to children's personality development;
the relationship among children, family, society, and literature; and
recommendations for developing healthier publishing practices for children.
We warmly invite all scholars, educators, writers, researchers, and everyone interested in children's literature to participate in and contribute to this international symposium.
Organized by
Child and Youth Literature Writers' Association
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
UNESCO Türkiye National Commission
Kafkas University
Ardahan University
Artvin Çoruh University
Iğdır University
Bartın University
Kazakhstan Writers' Union
Turkish Psychologists Association
Important Dates
Deadline for Abstract Submission 30 September 2026
Announcement of Accepted Abstracts 01 October 2026
Deadline for Full Paper Submission 10 October 2026
Symposium Dates 23–24 October 2026
Participation Information
The symposium will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both on-site and online participation. Information regarding the online participation platform, including access links and passwords, will be announced and shared with registered participants at a later date.
Important Note: Submission of the full paper is mandatory. Participants who do not submit their full papers will not receive an invitation for oral presentation and will not be issued a Certificate of Participation.
Venue:
Ahmet Arslan Congress and Culture Centre
Kafkas University Kars, TÜRKİYE
Invited Speakers
Doç. Dr. Celile Eren ÖKTEN (Deputy Minister of National Education)
Ord. Prof. Dr. İsa HABİBBEYLİ (President, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Osman MERT (President, Turkish Language Association)
Prof. Dr. Öcal OĞUZ (President, UNESCO Türkiye National Commission)
Prof. Dr. Ali Fuat ARICI (President, National Education Academy)
Prof. Dr. Gökhan MALKOÇ (President, Turkish Psychologists Association)
Dr. Öğr. Gör. Melike GÜNYÜZ (Child and Youth Literature Writers' Association / Publisher, Writer)
Events Held Concurrently with the Symposium
The symposium program will also include a variety of academic, cultural, and social events, including:
Children's Literature Talks
Visit to the Sarıkamış Martyrs' Memorial
Concert of Music from the Turkic World
Traditional Folk Dance Performances
Presentation of the Turkish Language Service Award to Prof. Dr. Osman MERT
Presentation of the Service Award for Turkish Language and Culture to Prof. Dr. Öcal OĞUZ
Cultural Tour of Kars, including:
(Ani Archaeological Site, Kars Castle, Caucasus Front War History Museum, Kars Cheese Museum)
Symposium Topics
The Scientific Committee welcomes original research related to, but not limited to, the following topics:
Harmful publications directed at children
The relationship between children's and young adult literature and psychology
Children's rights and child protection in children's literature
War, terrorism, violence, migration, bullying, and their psychological effects in children's literature
Children's publications in terms of the Principle of Child Appropriateness
Artificial intelligence and digitalisation in children's literature
Harmful elements affecting children and adolescents in children's and young adult literature in the digital age
Gender, gender neutrality, sexuality, and child sexual abuse in publications for children
Gender awareness education through children's literature
Teaching children body safety through children's literature
Child–family–society–language–culture–literature–education relationships from psychological and literary perspectives
Considering child psychology and the Principle of Child Appropriateness in children's publications
Harmful content that should be avoided in children's literature, ethical boundaries in publishing, and criteria supporting children's healthy development
The impact of harmful publications on children, families, and society
The use of children's publications in cases such as the Epstein case and similar incidents
Literary, psychological, and legal approaches to protecting children through children's literature
The use of children's publications in projects promoting positive and negative social transformation
The commercial dimension of content detrimental to children and youth and its relationship with capital
Children and youth as the target audience of international capital / harmful content as a commercial product
The contribution of literature to children's personality development
The Principle of Child Appropriateness and negative messages in children's cinema
Subliminal messages in publications for children
Harmful elements in foreign language and mother-tongue teaching materials for children
Harmful elements directed at children and adolescents in children's music, songs, music videos, and stage performances
Children's fundamental psychological needs and the development of texts that support these needs
Children's literature, cultural identity, and cultural erosion
The role of children's literature in preserving cultural identity and supporting children's identity formation
The relationship between children's books, digital publications, and Türkiye's national education system
Using children's literature as a tool for values education within the family
Values and dispositions in the Türkiye Century Education Model from the perspectives of the Principle of Child Appropriateness and child psychology
Negative characters and role models in Eastern and Western children's literature
The erosion of universal values in publications for children
The deterioration of artistic sensitivity and aesthetic awareness through harmful publications directed at children
Publications that hinder the development of children's national identity and cultural awareness
The use of publications for children as instruments for undermining religious beliefs and value systems
The use of children's and young adult literature as a means of imposing ideological perspectives on children and adolescents
Negative messages in myths, epics, fairy tales, legends, and other forms of oral children's literature
The Scientific Committee will also evaluate paper proposals on topics other than those listed above, provided they are relevant to the general theme of the symposium.
Organizing Committee
Bican Veysel Yıldız (President, Child and Youth Literature Writers' Association)
Ord. Prof. Dr. İsa Habibbeyli (President, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Kapu (Rector, Kafkas University)
Prof. Dr. Öztürk Emiroğlu (Rector, Ardahan University)
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Aydın (Rector, ArtvinÇoruh University)
Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel (Rector, Iğdır University)
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akkaya (Rector, Bartın University)
Prof. Dr. Ali Fuat Arıcı (President, National Education Academy)
Prof. Dr. Gökhan MALKOÇ (President, Turkish Psychologists Association)
Mereke Külkenov (President, Kazakhstan Writers' Union)
Prof. Dr. Adem Balkaya (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kafkas University)
Prof. Dr. Engin Kılıç (Vice Rector, Kafkas University)
Prof. Dr. Liailia Mingazova (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Republic of Tatarstan)
Prof. Dr. Merziyye Necefova (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Mitat Durmuş (Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kafkas University)
Prof. Dr. Selçuk Ural (Vice Rector, Kafkas University)
Prof. Dr. Vafa Savaşkan (ArtvinÇoruh University)
Prof. Dr. Zhanna Yusha (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Fareed Brohi (International Islamic University, Pakistan)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatima Hocin (Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meleyke Memmedova (Institute of Folklore, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Alparslan Kartal (Director, Abu'l Hasan Harakani Research and Application Center)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Said Kıymaz (Adıyaman University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuz Doğan (Iğdır University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tahir Kahhar (Uzbekistan State University of World Languages)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Günaydın (Gazi University)
Dr. Melike Günyüz (Ibn Haldun University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Lilya Memetova (Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University named after Fevzi Yakubov)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Tacettin Şimşek (Chair of the Academic Board, Child and Youth Literature Writers' Association)
Esat Erbil (Iraqi Turkmen Writers' Union)
Nazila Javadpour (Iran Writers' Union)
Yerkegül Arykkara (Kazakhstan, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University)
Scientific Committee
Prof. Dr. Ahmet İhsan Kaya (Gaziantep University)
Prof. Dr. Beytullah Karagöz (Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
Prof. Dr. Bilal Yorulmaz (Marmara University, Atatürk Faculty of Education)
Prof. Dr. Elnare Akimova (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Esma Dumanlı Kadızade (Mersin University)
Prof. Dr. Flera Saifulina (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Republic of Tatarstan)
Prof. Dr. Funda Masdar (Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Bitlis Eren University)
Prof. Dr. Gülin Öğüt Eker (Hacettepe University)
Prof. Dr. Jovanka Denkova (GoceDelčev University, North Macedonia)
Prof. Dr. Könül Hacıyeva (Institute of Literature, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. M. Abdullah Arslan (Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University)
Prof. Dr. Malika Djumamuratova (Karakalpak State University Uzbekistan, Republic of Karakalpakstan)
Prof. Dr. Mehman Hasanlı (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Işık (Mardin Artuklu University)
Prof. Dr. Müzeyyen Altunbay (Giresun University)
Prof. Dr. Neslihan Karakuş (Yıldız Technical University)
Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Yılmaz (Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University)
Prof. Dr. Raşit Koç (Van Yüzüncü Yıl University)
Prof. Dr. Sevinc Aliyeva (Nasimi Institute of Linguistics, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Prof. Dr. Suat Ungan (Karadeniz Technical University)
Prof. Dr. Şevkiye Kazan Nas (Akdeniz University)
Prof. Dr. Tahir Zorkul (Van Yüzüncü Yıl University)
Prof. Dr. Veysi Sevinçli (Iğdır University)
Prof. Dr. Yasin Mahmut Yakar (Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdulhakim Tuğluk (Iğdır University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Afak Yusifli (Ganja State University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aygün Bağırlı (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gürhan Çopur (Ardahan University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemine Memmedova (Heydar Aliyev Academy, Azerbaijan)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kevser Tozduman Yaralı (Aydın Adnan Menderes University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gültekin (Artvin Çoruh University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meleyke Memmedova (Institute of Folklore, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müşfik Borçalı-Çobanov (Azerbaijan Technical University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nusret Yılmaz (Iğdır University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasemin Baki (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yegana Huseynova (Ganja State University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Bekir Sıddık Kılıç (Kilis 7 Aralık University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Dilan Malgaz Güçlü (Iğdır University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Duygu Buğa (İstanbul Medipol University / Turkish Psychologists Association)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Emel Uysal Atabay (Artvin Çoruh University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Ferhat Uzunkaya (Ardahan University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Hülya Yolasığmazoğlu (Giresun University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nurgül Bağcı Koyuncu (Ardahan University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Okan Özkara (Ardahan University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Seden Demirtaş İlhan (Artvin Çoruh University)
Dr. Bahar Sayım Kuru (Iğdır University)
Dr. Musa Rahimi (Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran)
Dr. Rıza Oylum (Üsküdar University)
Dr. Yasemin Domaç Yaşar (Iğdır University)
Öğr. Gör. Abdulmukaddes Kutlu (Dicle University)
Bestami Yazgan
Erdoğan Ergin
Filiz Çelik Doğru
Gülay Sormageç
Mehmet Akpınar
Mehmet Solmaz
Nevin Nesrin Soysal
Nuran Turan
Seher Keçe Türker
Vural Eyikan
Submission Address
Çocuk ve Gençlik Edebiyatı Yazarları Birliği
Bağdat Cad. No: 385/B Maltepe/İSTANBUL
Telephone: +90 532 410 29 26
E-mail: bvy@hotmail.com.tr
Accommodation
To facilitate transportation and provide discounted accommodation for participants, a special agreement has been made with Kars Sapran Deluxe Hotel, located near the symposium venue.
Hotel Website: www.saprandeluxe.com
For Further Information
Official Website: www.cogeyb.org.tr
Telephone
+90 532 410 29 26