TUNIS, April 7, 2010 (TAP) - The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Office in Tunis held, on Wednesday, a meeting devoted a half-way assessment of the 2007-2011 co-operation programme between Tunisia and UNICEF, in the presence of representatives of the Fund and several non-governmental organisations.
This programme, the 6th of its kind between Tunisia and UNICEF, is designed to contribute to national efforts to protect and promote children and youth rights by improving quality of their education and medical care and developing their participation in public life, while focusing attention on vulnerable segments.
Women Family, Children and Elderly Affairs Minister Bebia Bouhnak Chihi highlighted Tunisia's gains in matters of promotion of children's right,s thanks to the Head of State's political will and forward-looking vision.
She reviewed the key mechanisms set up in this area, including the promulgation of the Child Protection Code and the creation of Children's Parliament.
Tunisia was among the first countries to ratify the International Child Rights Convention in 1989, she reminded.
The minister also shed light on the objectives of the President of the Republic's Prize for Child Rights, particularly further highlighting the sector and mobilising various stakeholders. Mrs. Bebia Bouhnak Chihi also praised the strong co- operation relations between Tunisia and UNICEF, stressing commitment to strengthen this co-operation to guarantee the welfare of all children and enhance their rights in different fields.
Mrs. Marilena Viviani, deputy Director-General of the UNICEF Office for Near East and North Africa, lauded the strides made by Tunisia in matters of promotion of child rights, pointing out that indicators recorded in this area place the country among the most advanced ones in the region and in Africa. "Tunisia is seen as a reference and has a unique experience of its kind in the region," Mrs. Viviani stressed, underlining that "UNICEF will bring as much support as possible to these initiatives."
She voiced UNICEF's wish to consolidate co-operation with Tunisia on new and emerging themes in connection with the country's level of development, particularly in the area of follow-up and management of knowledge and social practices.
She mentioned, in particular, the theme of "youths and adolescents," as part of the International Youth Year, an initiative of President Ben Ali which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly