Queen Rania Attends National Consultations on Children’s Rights

(Office of Her Majesty- Press Department- Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah attended today part of a national consultation that gathered professionals and youth to review and discuss Jordan’s progress in promoting and fulfilling the rights of children in the country.

Held at the Zaha Centre in Amman, the event was organized by the National Council of Family Affairs (NCFA) and UNICEF with the support of the Swiss Development Corporation in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The two- day consultations began with an overview of Jordan’s achievements in terms of children’s rights in four areas: education, health, social protection, and child protection.

Participants worked in groups and reviewed key challenges that face promoting children’s rights in Jordan and how they can be addressed and overcome. Groups also discussed means to stimulate the role of all stakeholders from the public sector as well as the civil society institutions.

NCFA Secretary General Fadel Al-Hmoud explained how over the past two days participants, in collaboration with UNICEF, identified three priorities pertaining to children’s rights in Jordan. He added that the outcomes of today will help pave the way for outlining a three-year plan that aims to accomplish the goals of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Al Hmoud stressed that NCFA, under the guidance of Her Majesty, works in coordination with all partners from both the public and private sectors in order to achieve the desired results.

UNICEF Jordan Representative, Robert Jenkins said: “I would like to congratulate Jordan and its people for their achievements in children’s rights throughout the past 25 years. Jordan is one of the leading countries in the region which has shown the political will and commitment for the survival, development and well-being of its children.”

“We realize there are still many challenges ahead, but the country is on the right track, and UNICEF will continue its support for all children in the country, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged,” he added.

The national consultation came to end with a presentation by youth and professionals outlining a concrete set of recommendations in the areas of education, health, protection of children from violence, and social protection. These recommendations will be reviewed by the NCFA, UNICEF, and partners in the next few weeks and would then be translated into concrete actionable plans for 2015 and beyond.

About the Convention on the Rights of the Child

On 20 November 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), establishing a set of fundamental rights for all children and young people. The CRC offers a vision of the world where all children survive and develop to their full potential without discrimination, and are protected, respected and encouraged to participate in decisions that affect their lives. The Convention is the most widely accepted human rights treaty in history; 194 States have ratified this celebrated agreement as of August 2014. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ratified the CRC on 24 May 1991.