BEIRUT: Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour highlighted Wednesday the importance of child rights-based programing in order to promote and protect children’s needs and development, the National News Agency reported.
According to the NNA, Abu Faour sponsored a conference in Beirut on child rights-based programing in areas in the Middle East and North Africa that are susceptible to conflict.
During the conference, the results of a regional study carried out by Swedish organization, Save the Children, in collaboration with the World Bank, were presented. The study aimed at revealing the benefits of child rights-based programing and its impact on children’s lives.
“Protecting children and ensuring their rights is a national duty and a necessary condition for balanced and sustainable community development,” Abu Faour said. “Planning and programing development projects that do not focus on children and their needs are deficient and inadequate.”
According to Abu Faour, Save the Children’s initiative comes at an appropriate time as the Arab world is currently witnessing uprisings and changes that will have wide and dangerous repercussions, especially on children. “It is the duty of all states to wake up and start building and organizing national responses that will guarantee and protect children’s rights.”
According to Abu Faour, when Lebanon witnessed armed conflict, especially during the Israeli occupation, children grew up fearing constant Israeli aggression. “In these times of armed dispute, there is a great need to ensure special care for children as they are the most fragile in the absence of political authority and resources.”
World Bank official Colin Scott said that the study presented aimed at reducing the dangers of conflict and he stressed the World Bank’s interest in providing aid and development solutions for countries in the Middle East.
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