Geneva: Qatar has reiterated the necessity of ensuring that child protection from violence remains in the core of the post-2015 development plans as a priority and called for looking at children’s best interests as a common interest in all other objectives.
Noor Al Sada, Second Secretary, Qatar’s permanent delegation to Geneva, made the remarks as she addressed a session on interactive dialogue with United Nations secretary-general’s special representative, on violence against children as part of the 28th session of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Al Sada hailed efforts of the special representative on violence against children and the special representative for children and armed conflicts in preparing their annual reports for UNHRC.
On challenges related to use of new information technology and communications by children, Al Sada said Qatar took notice of the issue and conducted studies, seminars and workshops to find the proper ways of enabling children to attain the maximum benefit from technology and help them avoid its risks.
She said the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, in association with the Supreme Education Council, has launched a cyber safety learning programme (Haseen) to raise awareness of young generations about definitions and concepts of cyber safety and security, and create a healthy environment in cyber space in the Qatari society.
On the report of the special representative on children and armed conflicts, Al Sada praised the progress made in the ‘Children, Not Soldiers’ campaign, and hoped it will achieve its objectives by 2016.
She also hoped that the campaign will be expanded to cover non-governmental armed forces to end the use of children in armed conflicts.
Al Sada stressed Qatar’s interest in protecting educational facilities from any military attacks and said such attacks would have negative impact on children’s right to education.
She highlighted the programme of protecting the right to education in insecurity and armed conflicts, a global initiative spearheaded by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Unesco special envoy for basic and higher education.
QNA
