Moroccan craftsmen pledge to protect children's rights

Moroccan craftsmen pledged to guarantee and protect the rights to education, medicare and leisure of the children working in their workshops.

This came under an agreement signed in Marrakesh Saturday by secretary of state to the minister of social economy, small and medium enterprises and handicraft, Abdelkrim Benatik, and presidents of the chambers of handicraft of Marrakesh, Safi, Meknes, Tangiers and Sale.

The craftsmen pledged to allow the working children to attend informal education courses at the rate of five hours a week without any cuts on their salaries, to benefit from medicare at the level of prevention and treatment and to enjoy entertainment and leisure activities.

They also vowed to limit the hiring of little children and to actively participate in movements initaited in Morocco in favor of children.

The signing ceremony, chaired by Princess Lalla Meriem, Sister to King Mohammed VI and chairwoman of the national observatory for children's rights, was attended by the African First Ladies participating in the summit, held in Marrakesh April 20-22 under the topic "the little Girl, a Global Movement for Africa's Development."