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For the first time
in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a National Childhood Strategy will be
finalized that will ensure Bahrain’s sustainable development by
addressing the rights of children and their access to healthcare,
education and protection mechanisms, as well as their participation
in decisions affecting them.
A press conference was held yesterday by the Minister of Social
Development and the UN Resident Coordinator to inform the local
press of developments on the National Childhood Strategy prepared
under a joint UNDP/UNICEF/Ministry of Social Development initiative.
The National Childhood Committee is playing a leading role in
preparation of this Strategy. The Project will focus not only on
finalization of the National Childhood Strategy for the Kingdom of
Bahrain, but also on an action plan for its implementation
H.E. Dr. Fatima Al Balooshi informed reporters that 47 percent of
the population is below the age of 18 and ensuring the rights of
this segment of society is an important task for the government.
“The National Childhood Committee has placed Bahrain’s children as
one of its priorities based on the Constitution and the Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to which Bahrain is a signatory”
she said.
Also speaking at the press conference, Mr. Aqa explained that “all
government and non-government stakeholders, academia, and above all
children themselves, worked cooperatively in putting together this
national strategy that will be finalized and launched within the
coming two months.” He stressed the need for this Strategy saying:
“A quick glance at the UNICEF’s statistics reveals that the number
of Arab children will reach a staggering number of 680 million in
2050. This, no doubt, requires proactive regional and national
planning to cope with.”
Mr. Aqa thanked the members and heads of the thematic groups, the
parents of children who participated in the focus group sessions,
NGOs, the Ministry of Social Development, the National Childhood
Committee, and UNICEF. |
