Syria to take part in the UN special session on Children
Syria, Culture, 8/24/2001

On 19-21 September 2001, for the first time in more than a decade, a global meeting of government leaders is being held specifically to discuss how to build a world fit for children.

Over three extraordinary days, participants at this UN Special Session on Children will review progress since the landmark World Summit on Children in 1990 and try to agree on what needs to be done, said UNICEF's program Coordinator in Damascus Mr. Narinder Sharma in a statement to Arabic News. The Special Session on Children is an unprecedented meeting of the UN General Assembly dedicated to the children and adolescents of the world. It will bring together government leaders and Heads of State, NGOs, children's advocates and young people themselves to date, 75 heads of state and government have confirmed their attendance.

A review of the progress made for children in the decade since the 1990 World Summit for Children and the World Declaration and Plan of Action will be made.

The Syrian delegation for the Special Session will be headed by Dr Muhammad Iyad Al-Shati, the Minister of Health, Mr Sharma said, adding that in Syria the "Say Yes for Children" campaign has taken off very well and is searching people in all the governorates. According to reports, Syria might be one of the countries with the highest number of pledges.

Syria ratified the CRC in 1993 and has even reported twice on its progress. Government of Syria is also considering in ratifying two additional protocols.

It is matter of appreciation that Syria has achieved or almost achieved all of the goals called for by the world summit for Children in 1990. The Maternal Mortality rate (MMR) has decreased from 143 to 71 (goal 75) - Under five Mortality Rate (U5MR) has decreased from 44 to 29 (goal 30) per 1000 live births - Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased from 33 to 24 (goal 22) per 1000 live births.

The commitment to realizing the World Summit goals has helped move children and child rights to a place high on the world's agenda. A renewed commitment and a pledge for specific actions for the coming decade.

World leaders will explore the long-standing challenges of serving and protecting children, as well as the issues emerging in this rapidly changing world. They will be asked to identify strategic solutions to the problems facing children and to commit the critical human and economic resources that will be called for.

Mr. Sharma added that the Special Session is expected to produce a global agenda with a set of goals and a plan of action devoted to ensuring three essential outcomes: a.. The best possible start in life for all children; b.. A good-quality basic education for all children; and c.. The opportunities for all children, especially adolescents, for meaningful participation in their communities.

He noted an important side event at the upcoming UN General Assembly's Special Session on Children, The Parliamentarian Forum on Children scheduled for September 20. Organized in partnership with the Inter-parliamentary Union, the Forum of Parliamentarian around the world interested in issues of children is designed to give political and legislative support to the Special Session and its outcome through their own experience.

A special forum for first spouses around the "Say Yes for Children" campaign will be organized in conjunction with the Special Session on Children. The Forum will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2001.

Children's Forum will be held from 16-18 September for under the age of 18 years. The Children's Forum will be a celebration of children's rights and will aim to enable participants to discuss ways in which they, as children and young people, can be actively involved in the implementation and monitoring of the goals as outlined in the outcome document.

Another Forum for NGO s is scheduled on 19-21 September, where more than 3700 NGOs have been invited to attend the session. Various events are being organised since last year to generate a wave of awareness, participation and cooperation to spearhead the cause of children's welfare.

Mr. Sharma indicated that "Say Yes for Children" will prepare the world to take on the challenges the Special Session on Children will identify by posing a defining question: Would each one of you be willing to pledge your time and energies to the well-being of the world's children? This is the essence of the Global Movement, and the ultimate hope of the Say Yes for Children campaign.

We, at UNICEF, Mr. Sharma said have been very impressed by the creativity and dedication of various people organizations working on the campaign "Say Yes for Children" and would like to extend our thanks to everyone involved.

However, it is not only governments that must put children first. Everyone - including individuals, organizations, religious groups, and the private sector - must recognize that children's rights are a priority. And it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that this is never forgotten.

" We must take this opportunity to launch a new era for children - in which government leaders accept their responsibilities to children, and in which we all work together to advocate and act for children," he said. In Syria we have the best opportunity for children and young people while having the young President "Dr. Bashar al-Assad" with his progressive and pragmatic policies.

I would like to conclude with the last words of late President Hafez al-Assad " Our destiny is to build for our children a reassuring future and our duty is to give them a better heritage than we had," Mr. Sharma concluded.

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