Queen Rania joins Arab youth in regional workshop on prevention of child abuse.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Amman, (Petra)-- As a staunch defender of children’s rights, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, on Thursday, discussed the issue of child abuse with 80 students hailing from sixteen different Arab countries in a regional workshop hosted by the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) in coordination with the League of Arab States. The workshop for Arab youth is focused on the prevention of child abuse in the Arab world, providing a platform for children to share their opinions and learn what other countries in the region are doing to tackle violence against children. The event was held at the Queen Rania Family and Child Centre (QRFCC) where Her Majesty engaged with youth in a candid discussion on the prevalence of child abuse in their respective countries. Breaking the regional taboo on child abuse, Queen Rania listened to children hailing from countries such as Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Oman, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Libya, Morocco, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt. The children engaged in an interactive conversation with Her Majesty, voicing their concerns and expressing ideas on how to prevent child abuse in their respective schools and communities.

Determined to make a difference in their own country, children told Her Majesty how they intend to take their recommendations directly to the Human Rights Commission and the League of Arab States. The workshop comes on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Children in conjunction with the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which encourages Governments, communities and civil society organizations to play a more active role in protecting children. Accompanied by JRF Director General Valentina Qussisiya, QRFCC Director Samia Bshara, and two young Jordanian girls, Her Majesty also toured the Queen Rania Family and Child Centre (QRFCC), established in 2005 to provide services and support to families under risk, and educate youth on child rights. The workshop will continue for two days, after which JRF has organized a march that will see the participation of all youth and will culminate in children handing in recommendations on how to prevent child abuse, to representatives of the Arab League.

(Petra)