The Consultative Meeting of Local Councils’ Leaders and Decision-makers to Mobilize and Advocate for Strengthening Lifesaving Practices, Childcare and Protection in Yemen- Capital Secretariat-Al-Thowra district
18 January 2018
A consultative meeting was held in Al Thowra Directorate, the Capital Secretariat, to discuss ways to strengthen lifesaving practices, childcare and protection. The meeting was organized by the Yemeni NGOs Coalition for Child Rights Care. It has included leaders of local councils, decision-makers, social figures, neighborhood chiefs, mosque preachers, and activists. The meeting highlighted the importance of redoubling efforts and collective action to protect the rights of children as well as encounter diseases and epidemics.
The meeting discussed the necessary measures to support and sponsor activities and events in support of children’s issues and ways to enhance coordination between local leaders, decision-makers, and activists.
In the meeting, the head of the social affairs committee of the Local Council in the Directorate, Mr. Hamoud Al Naqib praised the interaction of local councils, neighborhoods’ chiefs, social figures, and activists with issues and rights of child protection in different districts. He stressed the support of the local authority in the Capital Secretariat and its sponsorship of all activities and programs for advocacy and protection of the rights of children, and urged everyone to take care of children’s issues in various fields, mainly education, health care, and food.
Mr. Al Naqib called for strengthening and supporting efforts to confront cholera and diphtheria in the District of Minat Dhamar and other districts in Dhamar Directorate, especially under the difficult circumstances of the aggression. He highlighted the importance of the role of local councils and community in spreading community outreach about lifesaving behaviors and practices for children, and assisting field volunteers in spreading awareness. He also urged the local councils’ leadership and members, neighborhoods’’ chiefs, social figures to carry out their responsibilities towards children and their issues, in order to alleviate their suffering caused by the aggression.
During the meeting, outcomes of the Community Outreach Project for Behavioral and Social Change in its first phase were presented. The problems and causes of their emergence were identified with the support of UNICEF.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Fatima Al Ejl, Officer of the Communication Unit for Development at UNICEF, and Mr. Mohammed Abu Oraij, the Humanitarian Aid and Relief Coordinator in the Capital Secretariat, in addition to a number of representatives of human rights organizations.