As part of ongoing efforts to promote children’s rights and address the six grave violations against children, INSAF Center for Rights and Development, in partnership with DT Institute, organized a special event under the SAFE II project.
The event featured a coordination session for stakeholders and decision-makers, focusing on enhancing community engagement with children’s rights issues and developing strategies to protect children from grave violations, ensuring a safe future for them.
The session aimed to raise awareness, highlight children’s rights in accordance with international conventions, combat grave violations against children, and strengthen community interaction with institutions and civil society organizations to protect children from violence and exploitation. It also sought to establish effective coordination mechanisms for partnerships among various entities to enhance child protection.
The session was attended by a distinguished group of decision-makers, representatives of governmental institutions, civil society, and experts in children’s rights, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas and insights for comprehensive child protection.
The session was inaugurated by Mr. Mahmoud Al-Kawkani, Executive Manager of INSAF Center for Rights and Development, who emphasized the vital role of collaboration among all concerned parties. He stressed the importance of community engagement in raising awareness about children’s rights and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for them.
Judge Mona Saleh, Head of the Women’s and Children’s Rights Department in the Public Prosecutor’s Office, highlighted that the most neglected and non-existent child right today is the right to education. She stressed the urgent and sustainable enhancement of this right and emphasized the need to focus awareness efforts on decision-makers and officials. While civil society is well-aware of the issue, she pointed out the challenge lies in effectively involving leaders and policymakers. She called for regular meetings involving leaders, officials, and stakeholders to develop practical and effective plans. Judge Mona also advocated for launching awareness campaigns, workshops, seminars, and training courses to build a foundation of awareness and action that ensures basic children’s rights and a better future for them.
Mr. Emad Mohammed Said, General Director of Complaints at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, highlighted the importance of involving international organizations to support government efforts and enhance their impact in protecting children’s rights. He noted that the ministry is working to establish a dedicated unit for monitoring violations against children, such as recruitment, attacks on schools, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. He emphasized the need for joint efforts between the coordinating committee and civil society organizations to achieve shared goals and effectively protect children’s rights.
The session concluded with a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening joint efforts to protect children’s rights and ensure their future. These included organizing regular training courses, workshops, and specialized seminars on law and children’s rights with a focus on the six grave violations, intensifying advocacy and awareness campaigns to deepen societal understanding of children’s rights, establishing a specialized unit for providing psychological support and comprehensive care for children, and enforcing laws and procedures necessary for child protection.
