UN official calls Morocco to create specialized non-governmental organizations on children
Morocco, Culture, 3/3/2000

UN special rapporteur on children trafficking, prostitution and pornography, Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, who is currently on a visit to Morocco, called for the creation of non-governmental organization specialized in children.

The UN executive, who met on Thursday with members of the National observatory on children rights, said the existing organizations dealing with children issues in Morocco are not specialized ones. She said the Observatory, itself a non-specialized body, should lead action in assisting children and coordinating action undertaken by other organizations.

For Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, the problem of sexual exploitation of children do exist in Moroccan large cities, but it is not widespread and can, therefore, be easily addressed. What is more serious, she went on, is the problem of homeless children who are easy targets of sexual abuses.

The ONDE executives explained that the homeless children phenomenon in Morocco is very complex and no study was conducted nationwide to assess the size of the problem. The observatory has created a counselling and protection center for ill-treated children. Opened in November 1999, the center extends medical and legal services.

The Observatory was set up in May 1995 to see to the enforcement of the UN convention on children rights which Morocco ratified in 1993. Its actions are also meant to assess the situation of children in Morocco and defend, protect and promote children's rights.

Previous Stories:
  U.N. rapporteur on child sale, prostitution visits Morocco   (2/26/2000)
  Morocco to set up torture victims rehabilitation center   (2/22/2000)
  International women association opens north African branch in Morocco   (2/5/2000)

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