Government of Bahrain’s childhood achievements highlighted

Manama, Feb. 5 (BNA): The United Nations affirmed that the cutting-edge achievements of the Government of Bahrain in the field of childhood; stems from the belief that the child is the cornerstone for building the future of Bahrain’s development, prosperity and leadership. Speaking on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Ameen Sherkaoui, the Resident Coordinator of the activities of the United Nations Organisation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, lauded Bahrain for its high profile in promoting the protection of children's rights, which was highlighted in its periodic report during the meetings of the 80th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child held this month in Geneva. Mr. Sherkaoui also noted the National Strategy for Children, adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF for the period 2013-2017, had had a significant impact on qualitative achievements in the areas of child protection, education, health, participation and non-discrimination, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. He also referred to the approval by the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, in its meeting held in May 2018, to extend the work of the National Strategy for the next five years to cover or complete what has not yet been achieved from policies and initiatives related to childhood. Al-Sharqawi called for renewing the said strategy and extending it to 2030, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 goals, in cooperation with UNICEF and the UN Office in Bahrain. He said that this invitation comes from the importance that the Bahraini child should have during the various stages of childhood, especially in the light of developments in the world that are accelerating technological developments that require reconsideration and follow-up; to make the most of the goals and indicators of sustainable development and to link them to the updated strategy 2030, to ensure that future generations are able to lead the development process in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Resident Coordinator of the activities of the United Nations Organisation in the Kingdom of Bahrain revealed efforts to open a UNICEF office in Bahrain to develop and sustain work on childhood with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and bring it into line with all developments in the international community. "This is in line with the Strategic Partnership Framework Agreement signed by the Kingdom of Bahrain in October 2017 with representatives of 16 United Nations agencies to support and implement projects that serve the development policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.", said Al Sherkaoi. In the same context, the government's interest under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, in promoting the rights of the child, is a high priority to ensure a better future for coming generations by implementing a meaningful future vision. The National Strategy for Childhood, together with its efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development vision 2030, which include 17 interrelated goals aimed at providing a safer world for children and a sustainable environment to improve their living conditions and protect them from dangers, especially with regard to implementing the goals associated with education, health and poverty and violence against children. This interest has been universally recognized by international organizations and parties concerned with the rights of the child, which was recently reflected during the meetings on the review of the periodic report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on safeguarding of the rights of the child in the 80th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The appreciation of the child is a priority for the government, based on the belief in the value of the child in building the future, which is an engine for the government's efforts to prepare and nurture the Bahraini child and create a healthy environment for its growth and development. The Prime Minister has always stressed the necessity of caring for children and providing them with all the necessary requirements to ensure their rights and to develop them properly so as to be effective players in building the country and its prosperity. The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain was one of the first countries in the region to adopt a national strategy for childhood, an obligation to respect and promote the rights of the child and to meet the various needs of the child through the implementation of the National Strategy for Childhood (2013-2017). Four main themes were considered in this regard: the right to health and survival, the right to education and capacity development, the right to protection, the right to participation and non-discrimination, as well as activating the implementation of the rights of the child guaranteed by Islamic Sharia laws and confirmed by international covenants and conventions. At its meeting held in May 2018, the Cabinet also approved the extension of the National Strategy for Childhood Plan for the next five years to complete the implementation of the rest of the plan, in order to enhance the results and gains achieved in the field of child development and protection. Bahrain has succeeded in implementing several mechanisms and action initiatives by the authorities concerned in accordance with the National Strategy for Children's Plan (2013-2018). The implemented part of this strategy has reached about 79% of the reality set out in the Plan of Action of the National Strategy for Childhood, which enabled Bahrain through the National Committee for Childhood to redraw the map of childhood and unite efforts to effectively coordinate all activities related to the implementation of all elements that are in the best interest of the child. As a result of these concrete government efforts, the Bahraini child has a relatively high standard of living according to the UNDP Human Development Index 2017. Bahrain ranked 43rd in the world ranking list among 189 countries. The Human Development Index rose by 13.4% 1990 and 2017, thus increasing the average life expectancy of the individual. This is also due to the continuous improvements made by the government in the sectors of health, education and work, with indicators of the unemployment rate at its safe rates of only 4.1%. On the other hand, the government has been keen to implement programs and initiatives that guarantee the right of children to outstanding education, as well as the right of special groups of children in developing their capacities and meeting their educational needs. Programs that support and nurture gifted and talented school students, programs for the integration of children with disabilities into public and private schools, as well as monitoring many initiatives that guarantee the right of children to education in a stable and secure environment, were also part of the government plan. The Kingdom of Bahrain has also launched a child protection initiative, namely the Child Protection Center and the Child Support and Support Line (998), which are a qualitative example of joint action to safeguard and protect children's rights. In addition, Bahrain has launched a specialized prosecution to deal with the categories covered by the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence in all cases of psychological, physical, sexual and economic abuse. This category includes the necessary privacy when dealing with their cases and the purpose of this law is to ensure that the child is covered by special treatment as well as procedures aimed to improve behavior. The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the leading countries in terms of legalizing of the rights of the child and has an independent legal umbrella to guarantee the rights of children and provide them with integrated protection through an integrated law, which is the first of its kind in the Kingdom for the rights of the child. In this regard, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been keen to adhere to international conventions for the protection of the rights of the child, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1992. The Kingdom has also concluded cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with international organizations and its committees concerned with children, (UNICEF) in order to ensure children's rights and fulfill their obligations to the international charters to which they have acceded. In accordance with the indicators presented by the Kingdom of Bahrain during the sessions on reviewing Bahrain's periodic report and its procedures for the protection of the rights of the child, high quality services for all children without discrimination were outlined where many achievements have been achieved at the health level, such as reducing the under-five year old mortality rate and reducing the maternal mortality rate by providing quality health services according to the standard recommended by the health organization and international community. On the educational side, the Government has exerted efforts to ensure that all children of both sexes have access to free and improved education. Children with disabilities have also been given considerable attention by policies, legislation and programs that promote the health, development, protection, participation and integration of children with disabilities into public life without discrimination. In line with this concern for people with disabilities, the Cabinet, under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, issued a decree granting the employees with severe disabilities, or a first degree relative who cares for a person with severe disabilities and needs special care, a two - hour daily break. The international recognition of the achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain in its efforts to promote the protection of the rights of children was the result of its successes at the institutional and legislative levels, the measures taken to provide health care and education, and its keenness to protect children through distinctive national and development initiatives, as well as its commitment to international treaties, which placed it at an advanced position in the ranks of reactant states that respect the safeguarding of children's rights.