Bahrain participates in UNGA high-level meeting on 30th anniversary of Convention on Rights of Child

New York, Nov. 22 (BNA): At the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirmed that this year is of particular importance to the Convention, as the world celebrates 30 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, when the world leaders pledged to promote and pay due attention to the rights of children as they are the most important resource possessed by the countries for a better future for humankind, and as an opportunity for Member States to renew their pledge to do everything possible to integrate the needs of children into national policies and protect their world in the context of the world’s political and environmental turmoil. The Kingdom of Bahrain has always taken the lead in acceding to international conventions and treaties that promote efforts in the field of children's rights, in the light of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's reformist approach, which stems from the firm belief in the importance of proper and integrated upbringing of the new generations. This came in a statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, at the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly held at the organisation's headquarters in New York on the occasion of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Permanent Representative also pointed out that the Kingdom has always attached special importance to the protection and promotion of children’s rights. The Kingdom acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, and the Child Law No. 37 of 2012 was promulgated, which ensured the right of the child at the most important levels, such as the creation of appropriate conditions for their upbringing, the provision of adequate health care, the right to food and education as well as proper social welfare. In addition, the National Childhood Strategy was endorsed as a joint effort between the National Commission for Childhood, Ministry of Labour and Social Development and UNICEF, which approves action plans to promote and develop programs guaranteeing children's rights and proposes legislation and recommendations to the relevant official bodies, of which 79% of its initiatives have been implemented to date. The Permanent Representative added that the provision of the best means of health care for children in the Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the priorities of the Kingdom, which provides high quality health care in accordance with the international standards for all children without discrimination. In this regard, it has been able to reduce the mortality rate of children under five years of age, in addition to the absolute attention to the mother, her reproductive health and the health of the fetus until his birth. The statistics, which are among the advanced rates, indicate a decline in the maternal mortality rate during childbirth and a decline in mortality of children under the age of five. In the field of education, the Permanent Representative noted that the enrollment rate of children in primary and secondary education reached 100%, and that children with disabilities receive special attention according to their needs, in addition to the important support provided by the Royal Charity Organization for the care and protection of orphans and widows. He also explained that the latest statistical update, which includes the Human Development Index and its indicators for the United Nations Development Programme, showed that the Kingdom of Bahrain ranked 43rd out of 189, where the human development index rose to 13.4 percent. The Labour Law for the Private Sector No. (36) for 2012 and its amendments were also promulgated, and Article 28 of that law includes a classification of 42 professions prohibiting the employment of juveniles in the absence of exposure to physical, psychological or sexual exploitation. The Permanent Representative also stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of its partnerships with the United Nations System and its agencies, whereas, in collaboration with UNICEF, works on children's rights has been strengthened through the Strategic Partnership Framework Agreement (2018-2022), the first of its kind in the region, to support the Government's action plan and priorities, in addition to the use of experts from the UNDP in the Kingdom of Bahrain to follow up the implementation of the National Childhood Strategy Plan in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. In turn, the Kingdom is keen to contribute Bahraini competencies in the field of protecting the rights of the child, where Ms. Amal Al-Dosari was re-elected to the post of Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child for the period 2017 to 2021. The Permanent Representative also praised the important role played by UNICEF in the relief of children in conflict situations around the world and in their rehabilitation, protection and safeguarding their rights as the defender of those who are most vulnerable and cannot defend themselves, which are children. He also hailed the commitment of the Kingdom of Bahrain to promote and protect children's rights in all areas to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which ensure the rights of all groups and that no one is left behind.