News from Africa
National Council of Child Welfare and UNICEF launch State of Sudanese Children
Human Rights
While encouraging achievements in child rights and welfare have been registered in Sudan in recent years, challenges remain, according to the State of Sudanese Children report, released today by the National Council of Child Welfare (NCCW) and UNICEF Sudan. The report shows Sudan’s progress in childhood indicators between 2006 and 2010, and outlines specific actions for every state that need to be taken in order to meet remaining challenges.
While encouraging achievements in child rights and welfare have been registered in Sudan in recent years, challenges remain, according to the State of Sudanese Children report, released today by the National Council of Child Welfare (NCCW) and UNICEF Sudan. The report shows Sudan’s progress in childhood indicators between 2006 and 2010, and outlines specific actions for every state that need to be taken in order to meet remaining challenges.
"The report is a call to fulfill children’s rights and provide welfare, protection and other services for every child. The growing awareness of communities on the child rights will support our efforts to improve the life of our children. Strengthening the concerned institutions at national and state levels is crucial for a joint action to guarantee the child rights in coordination with national and international partners", says Fathelrahman Mohamed Babiker, NCCW Secretary General, officer-in-charge.
In 1990, Sudan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, guaranteeing children their human rights, including the right to survival, development, protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation, as well as full participation in family, cultural and social life. The passing of the Child Act in 2010 further solidified that commitment.
“Half of the Sudanese population, or about 15 million, are children or under the age of 18”, says Ray Virgilio Torres, officer-in-charge of UNICEF Sudan. “Investing in their rights today means development and prosperity for the entire country for decades to come. There is no sounder investment”.
The SoSC report is a compilation of the most recent socioeconomic and demographic data available in Sudan, mainly from the second Sudan Household Health Survey (SHHS2) conducted by Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health in 2010. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics’ Sudan Population and Housing Census 2008 and National Baseline Household Survey 2009, as well as the Ministry of Education’s education statistics are other important sources of information used in the publication.
Some highlights
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The State of Sudanese Children can be downloaded here: Arabic www.unicef.org/sudan/arabic, www.nccw.gov.sd. English: http://www.unicef.org/sudan/overview_7242.html |
KHARTOUM, Sudan, September 24, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)
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