Qatar: Promotion of kids' rights a priority

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)New York: Qatar has underlined that it pays special attention to children’s rights at local regional and international levels as an integral part of human rights in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol adopted by the international community and joined by the state.

Addressing the UN Social Humanitarian and Cultural - Third Committee on ‘Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children’ Sarah Al Saad Al Kuwari Member of Qatari delegation to the 70th UN General Assembly session said according to UN reports millions of children around the world are suffering due to armed conflicts and acts of violence including killing and recruitment by parties to conflicts and terrorist groups in violation of the rule of law and human rights standards and despite achievements of the international community in the promotion of children’s rights.

She highlighted a report by Leila Zerrougui the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children and armed conflict and a report by Martha Santos the secretary-general’s special representative on violence against children which shed light on the prevalence of abuse and neglect of children and their fear in many countries.

She praised the special representative’s efforts to create a safe environment for children’s protection and the importance of the campaign ‘Children not soldiers’ initiated by Unicef to end recruitment and use of children by parties to conflicts by next year.

She affirmed Qatar’s commitment to the promotion and protection of children’s rights on the basis of Qatar National Vision 2030 National Development Strategy 2011-2016 and family and social strategies.

Qatar’s statement also highlighted the establishment of institutions dealing with children’s rights and protection such as Qatar Foundation for Social Work which includes other institutions dealing with children such as Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs.

The statement also shed light on the importance of education in Qatar in its prominent role in the process of comprehensive development.

It highlighted the global initiative ‘Educate a Child’ which aims to restore children’s right to basic education especially of those facing challenges because of their presence in conflict zones and in poor countries.

The statement also reiterated Qatar’s keenness to protect children commitment to continue efforts to protect kids in armed conflicts and provide an enabling environment for the development of their abilities.

It also noted Qatar’s initiative at the third donors’ conference in Kuwait to establish a joint fund for education and professional development for the benefit of displaced Syrian young people and children.

Al Kuwari said the statement that Qatar considers with great concern what is happening to children in the areas under foreign occupation where they are exposed to violation of their most basic rights to life protection and development and pointing out the case of Palestinian children and daily violations by Israeli occupation authorities and settlers.

She stressed that the reports of the UN secretary-general must reflect tragedies experienced by children and find urgent solutions. She called on the international community to unify efforts to improve the circumstances of children and achieve their happiness and well-being all over the world.

QNA