Princess Lalla Meryem holds talks; king's presence evidence to interest in children issues
Morocco, Culture, 5/10/2002

Morocco's Princess Lalla Meryem, chairwoman of the National Observatory of Children's Rights, who is leading the Moroccan delegation to the UN special general assembly on children convened at the UN headquarters May 8-10, held side talks with heads of several delegations to the special session.

Princess Lalla Meryem thus conferred with US secretary of health and human services, Tommy Thompson, who described the talks as fruitful.

He told reporters after the meeting that talks focused on the immunization campaigns staged in Morocco nationwide and that covered 80 percent of children. He said that he applauds these campaigns and that she is a worthy representative of a marvelous country.

"We spoke of the aids phenomenon, of children's exploitation and of child labor," he said before hailing as "fabulous" the work conducted by Morocco and by Princess Lalla Meryem "a genuine advocate of children's causes," he said.

He said his department will spare no effort to back "the exemplary work" conducted by Morocco in struggle against AIDS, mainly through education and research.

Princess lalla Meryem, who had earlier attended the opening session of the UN special session also conferred with Pakistan's minister of welfare and develoment, Ms Attiya Inayatullah.

In the evening, Princess Lalla Meryem took part in the function hosted by the chairman of the UN general assembly in honor of participating delegations.

Princess Lalla Meryem is leading the Moroccan delegation to the landmark three-day UN special session on children that will explore long-standing obstacles to young people's well-being and development and provide opportunity to appraise developments since the World Summit for Children in 1990.

The special session is bringing together over 60 heads of State and government, as well as non-governmental organizations, children's advocates and children themselves.

King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Princess Lalla Meryem, chairwoman of the National Observatory of Children's Rights, has attended earlier Wednesday the opening session of the UN special general assembly on children.

The presence of King Mohammed VI is an evidence to the interest that the sovereign grants to social issues, said in New York Wednesday Zoulika Nasri, advisor to the sovereign.

Nasri who is part of the Moroccan delegation to the UN session told the Moroccan TV channel "2M" "His Majesty the king considers children issues as a national cause," adding that Morocco's interest is increasing as shown by a nationwide campaign in favor of children welfare, signing the UN convention on children protection, creating the national children's rights observatory, chaired by Princess Lalla Meryem (the sovereign's eldest sister), and supporting decisive actions like the generalization of immunization.

The sovereign's presence is also a clear indication to the existing political will in Morocco to focus efforts on childhood and protect children against all forms of ill-treatment.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco, an example in fight against child labor, ILO   (5/8/2002)
  Princess Lalla Meriem to attend UN special session on children   (5/8/2002)
  Morocco's Princess Lalla Hasna chairs charity gala   (5/3/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search