Joint Syrian ministry of labor, UNICEF first forum on children
Syria, Culture, 4/5/2002

The Minister of Labor and social affairs Ghada al-Jabi on March 27th opened the first forum for the societies working in the childhood realm.

The event was run by the Syrian ministry in collaboration with UNICEF under the slogan of strengthen the contribution of civil societies in serving childhood issues The Forum's opening session was attended by UNICEF's representative in Damascus Mohamed Bindress Alami; several members of the people's Assembly, representatives for the people's organizations and UN organizations accredited in Damascus and representatives of civil societies working for children in Damascus.

In his presentation at the Forum, UNICEF's director in Damascus Mr. Muhammad Bindress al-Alami underlined the great care given by Syria to children. He stressed that Syria's signing of the Child Rights Convention is considered a clear evidence on its care to provide the optimum atmosphere for children that enabling them to contribute to all walks of life. He said that UNICEF has been working in Syria since more than 30 years, and is carrying out projects and programs in collaboration with the Syrian companies of health, education, culture, justice, labor, the information, the environment, and housing and with people's organizations, non- governmental organizations and also with the private sector.

He said that UNICEF has implemented with the Syrian government four co-operation plans since 1985 until 2001, noting that the new co-operation plan starts as from 2002 until 2006.

Mr. Alami also indicated certain indicators which reflect the status of children in Syria. He said that that mortality rate among children under five year old is 29 per one thousand.. He said that mortality rate in the rural areas is 18% higher than in the urban areas.

He indicated that leakage from school especially among girls is still in a high percentage in the northern and northern east areas. A rate which is 49.3% among girls and 3.9% among boys.

He added that illiteracy is still high, especially among girls and in the rural areas with 22% among girls and 9% among boys.

He continued that 8% of the girls leave the school under the pressure of their families because of several reason. These include 57% for economic reasons; 35% for social reasons; 4% for educational reasons and 4% for other different reasons. He said that 26.2% of children aging between 12- 17 year old are working. Some 44.5% of them are boys and 5.5% are girls.

Mr. Alami indicated several activities carried out in the area of Child's rights in Syria. he said that Syria joined the agreement on the right of the child in 1993, according to law no. 8 and since then UNICEF has been supporting sides concerned to put articles of the Child Rights Convention into actual implementation.

He noted the support given to the higher committee on children formed under the chairmanship of the deputy premier for services and revitalizing its role in a way it follows up closely Child affairs and works to eliminate hindering impediments and to maintain attained achievements. He indicated that the Syrian ministry of justice, supported by UNICEF has so far established six " family centers " in six Syrian provinces. Divorced parents meet with their children in these centers instead of " seeing room" used to be made in courts. He also indicated other national seminars conducted between the Syrian Women's general Union and the Revolution's Youths Union in order to promote the rights of the child and of the woman, alike.

In a speech she delivered the minister noted the great care accorded by the late President Hafez al-Assad and continued to be given by President Bashar al-Assad to children. She indicated that Syria in 1993 ratified the agreement on the rights of the Child and revitalizing the role of the higher council for childhood by setting up the higher committee on children.

Minister al-Jabi indicated the mission carried out by the ministry of social affairs and labor through its various establishments and directorates, with a high a sense of responsibility.

The minister also asserted the nee of maintaining co-operation and co-ordination between the ministry of social affairs and labor and several Arab and international organizations concerned local organizations and civil societies so as to contribute to the process of comprehensive social development, organizing training courses and workshops for qualifying specialized supervisors and refine their skills and talents.

The chairman of the charity societies federation Tahsin al-Safadi underlined the importance of giving care to children. He indicated the role to be played by the ministry of labor and social affairs to revitalize work of civil societies involved with children issues.

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