King calls for a national plan to improve child's condition
Morocco, Culture, 5/26/2004

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has called for a national plan to improve the conditions of children in the Kingdom, saying he was "keen to see to it that children be provided with a democratic education."

This came in a message to the tenth edition of the National Congress of the Child's Rights that opened, in Rabat Tuesday, under the high patronage of the monarch.

In his message, read out on his behalf by his sister, Princess Lalla Meryem, chairwoman of the National Observatory of the Child's Rights" (ONDE), the sovereign said "We should encourage children to be firmly committed to good morals, to human ideals, and to the rights and obligations entailed by responsible citizenship. They should also be encouraged to take keen interest in the sound management of public affairs, based on tolerance, respect of other people's views and total rejection of all forms of extremism, violence and abuse."

The sovereign, who is "particularly keen to see to it that children are provided with a democratic education," said "we should instil in our children the love of the homeland, of life in dignity and in a healthy environment. We must teach them to respect the rule of law and to support coexistence and constructive interaction with all human civilizations and with people of the revealed religions." Our children, he went on, should be encouraged to uphold universal human rights, but remain faithful to their distinctive Moroccan identity, displaying an open, rational attitude towards the requirements of their times."

The King's message came as the country is celebrating the National Child Day, the commemoration of which was decided by his late Father, King Hassan II.

"Our goal is to make further achievements in support of the nation's foremost wealth, namely our youth and skilled human resources.," the king said.

The Observatory which brings together all government authorities concerned as well as representatives of civil society, is, according to the monarch, "capable of rising to all challenges, and engaging in dedicated, constructive dialogue with a view to drawing up a national plan."

"This plan should reflect my concern to improve the condition of the child, as well as the special care and affection I have for children," King Mohammed VI said adding that this plan should be " integrated in the global project for a modern, democratic society, which I am particularly keen to bring to fruition, as the embodiment of the aspirations of an entire nation."

"Doing justice to women, protecting children's rights, and preserving men's dignity, through the new Family Code, which is meant to help build a closely-knit family unit, are basic components as well as key objectives of the project," the monarch noted.

Morocco, he went on, has made considerable progress in the area of child protection and promotion of children's conditions.

After praising "the excellent programs" supervised by his sister, Princess Lalla Meryem, the monarch urged all actors involved - government authorities, local communities, civil society, private sector and the media - "to show even greater mobilization and co-ordination of their efforts in order to improve the condition of children, as part of an integrated plan for the next decade." Children, he insisted, "should fully enjoy their rights as citizens; hence the need to overcome such impediments as poverty, marginalization, illiteracy as well as serious and infectious diseases." "Social services should be made available to our children, especially youngsters in difficult situations, and those living in marginalized neighbourhoods or rural areas."

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