Arab co-operation can shield children from violence, ministers say

Maghreb officials attending the Arab ministerial conference in Marrakech touted their progress in protecting children. According to experts, however, much work remains.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Marrakech – 02/01/11

Arab states need to take joint action to protect children from violence and terrorism, the 4th Arab Ministers' Congress on the Rights of the Child Rights recently concluded in Marrakech.

There is a "need to adopt resolutions condemning terrorism, of which children are the primary victims, and tending to limit violence within families, at schools and in society by promoting the precepts of tolerant Islam, which condemns all forms of terrorism and violence", attendees said at the December 19th-21st meeting, held under the theme: "Strengthening the Arab Partnership".

"Across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in particular, the situation for children is very similar," sociologist Samira Kassimi told Magharebia. "These countries have made progress in this area. But big issues remain, and they necessitate a closer partnership between decision-makers, civil society and experts so that joint strategies can be formulated."

Maghreb ministers expressed their willingness to share experiences in order to tackle persistent hurdles.

"Morocco has taken a number of measures and adopted strategies to bring its laws into line with international agreements, including the Family Code (Moudawana), the Nationality Code and the ambitious ten-year program entitled 'A Morocco Worthy of its Children'. Several awareness campaigns have focused on the prevention of violence against children and servant labor," Moroccan Social Development Minister Nouzha Skalli said.

Skalli also highlighted the urgent need to implement programs aimed at preventing violence against children, to break down the wall of silence regarding the issues they face and to involve all stakeholders in this process. She expressed satisfaction with what Morocco has achieved, and asserted that it has made an irrevocable commitment to human development and children's rights, in particular through the adoption of an integrated approach.

In terms of children's rights, Morocco's experience can be held up as an example, just like that of Tunisia and the Lebanon, according to Rabab El Hussieny, a senior lecturer at the Egyptian Center for Sociological and Criminological Research.

Algeria has made important strides thanks to "compulsory free schooling for boys and girls, free healthcare and the creation of an extensive mother-and-child health network aimed in particular at achieving universal immunization coverage for children," Algerian Maghreb Affairs Minister Abdelkader Messahel said.

"Forty per cent of the budget for the 2010-2014 public investment program has been allocated to the education and healthcare sectors, the aim being to resolve certain weaknesses that are still in evidence," the minister added. He also underlined that 99% of births are now reported to register offices and that Algerian citizenship may be passed on by both fathers and mothers.

Meanwhile, Tunisia is establishing a national children's festival, which will be held on January 11th each year to supplement the 1995 Child Protection Code, former Tunisian Youth and Sports Minister Samir Laabidi said. Laabidi was named Communications Minister as part of the December 29th Tunisian cabinet reshuffle.

The minister said that Tunisia's goals include children's right to compulsory education and pointed out that the school enrollment rate for children aged six was 99.2% in 2009.

Mauritania has made considerable efforts with regard to children on the institutional and organizational fronts in partnership with civil society and international organizations, Mauritanian Social Affairs Minister Moulaty Mint El Moctar said.

However, Samira Kassimi says that more needs to be done in Maghreb countries to combat child labor, the phenomenon of street children, violence against children and other problems. This makes it essential to adopt sound strategies to enable children to thrive and safeguard their social and economic rights, she said.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/01/02/feature-01.