The Daily Star - Italy to partner with ministries to protect children - May 24, 2011

By Van Meguerditchian
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Italy is keen to share its experience in instituting child protection programs with the Lebanese government, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Giuseppe Morabito said Monday.
“Protecting vulnerable groups in general, and the child in specific, against all forms of violence and abuse is a universal responsibility that each one of us shall assume, as per his or her mandate and capacities,” said Morabito during a ceremony to launch a child protection program.
Speaking at the Social Affairs Ministry to an audience that included caretaker Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud and caretaker Social Affairs Minister Salim Sayegh, Morabito gave an account of the Italian experience in establishing protection programs, including hotlines for childhood emergencies and missing children, and a documentation center that works to promote a culture of children’s rights.
The Italian government will provide 1.5 million euros in funding for the program, which will span three years, to be allocated to municipalities and civil society groups which will develop local policies to enhance the protection of the most vulnerable groups in society, with a particular focus on children.
For the program, entitled, “Strengthening of Lebanese institutions and support to the most vulnerable groups at the local level,” to be successful, Italian and Lebanese officials stressed the need for the participation of the labor, health, justice and interior ministries.
But most government-supervised programs were suspended this year after the collapse of the national unity Cabinet in January. “Today we feel humble in the face of our constituents because we joined a Cabinet and shortly afterward it turned into a caretaker [Cabinet],” said Baroud.
Baroud said the Lebanese government has failed to provide minimal public services since its establishment in 1943. “It is unacceptable not to talk about these issues [child protection] as part of the necessities demanded by the Lebanese people,” Baroud added.
The Department of Juvenile Protection is to lead the program, which is expected to review the national legal framework for child protection, as well as establish a national child helpline, “children friendly” cities, – which will be models for the implementation of child-related projects nationally – and a national center for documentation on children.
“Children friendly” communities will be implemented by the Ajaltoun, Chiyah and Jdeideh municipalities. The center for documentation will be carried out in partnership with the University of Sagesse.