Jordan Times
Saturday, May 15, 1999
NTFC to open regional seminar
By Susan Resheq
AMMAN — The National Task Force for Children will hold a three-day regional conference on children's rights on Monday.
The “Children's Rights and Realities” conference from May 17-19, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Noor — president of the National Task Force — in cooperation with the Human Rights Project Fund and the British Council.
The conference aims to provide an opportunity for Arab experts in the field of child rights to exchange and build upon their knowledge and experience.
“We had invited experts from several Arab countries to discuss the situation of children in their countries particularly and Arab children in general. We compare children's situation between reality and words in children's legislation and programmes,” Issam Zawawi, national task media force officer told the Jordan Times on Thursday at a press conference.
He added: “Eventually we will try to implement [recommendations] as these invited experts are decision-makers in their countries in child fields.”
“There should be full awareness among all people that in the prevailing global situation, children continue to be victims of deprivation, exploitation, abuse, neglect, discrimination and other forms of injustice and human rights violations,” Zawawi said.
“Respect for human rights begin with the way societies and governments protect their children,” he said.
Zawawi indicated that through all children's charters and legislation, children are the first call of all human endeavour, the first call on resources, and that the rights of children are of primordial importance in a fair and human society.”
He added: “The conference will focus on children's rights and practical reality, with an emphasis on child labour, child abuse and the rights of the female child.”
“We have invited experts from some Arab countries, for example Algeria, who have experience in dealing with children who were victims of abuse,” Zawawi said.
“Experts will be invited from Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria and Palestine,” Zawawi said.
“There will also be representatives from UNICEF, the League of Arab States and the Arab Council for Children and Development.”
He said that as many as 70 participants will attend the conference and will include the participation of some of children.”
The conference's participants will tackle children's issues by upholding children's right to participation in all matters and actions affecting their family lives, communities, countries, regions and the world.
The conference was preceded by a nationwide media campaign on children's rights, promoting children's rights as stated in national, Arab and international charters, legislation and laws through various mass media. The media campaign was organised by the National Task Force for Children.