Qatar celebrates Gulf Children’s Day

Doha, The Gulf Observer: The Ministry of Social Development and Family, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, organised a Gulf Children’s Day celebration, at the Social Development Centre in The Pearl-Qatar.

The GCC member states mark January 15 every year as the Gulf Children’s Day.

The celebration of this occasion comes as an important day, as all attention is directed to the children of the Gulf; In order to create a special international day for them, which is an ideal opportunity to instil patriotism, and to enhance their national and Gulf identity.

Several educational, artistic and recreational activities were also held during the celebration, which facilitated the introduction of children to the customs and traditions of each Gulf country, in addition to experiencing wearing traditional Gulf clothing and raising flags that embody the national identity. The participating children were also provided with important basic information about Gulf roots and origins and their environment.

On this occasion, the Head of the Family Development Department at the Ministry of Social Development, Hadeel Ali Al Ajeel, said: “The celebration of Gulf Children’s Day, which falls on Jan 15, comes to confirm that this stage is considered one of the most important stages in human life.”

Al Ajeel indicated that the main purpose of this celebration is to draw a smile on the faces of children, and to enhance the feeling of close social distances in which the Arab Gulf countries coexist.

A number of parents of the participating children expressed their pleasure in organising this celebration, indicating that it is an occasion to emphasise the interest and care of children, and to instil the authentic Gulf identity, by promoting moral values and religious, national and social principles.

The Gulf Children’s Day celebration stems from the GCC countries’ consolidated belief that the children represent the youth of tomorrow and protectors of homeland who should be perfectly brought up by instilling religious, national and social principles in their lives.

The GCC states celebrate the day in recognition of their interest in educating children to be vibrant extension of humanitarian customs and traditions which the region’s countries and people are proud of.

The State of Qatar gives an increasing and absolute priority to promoting the children’s rights and protecting them at local, regional and international levels, and ensuring full implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was ratified by Qatar on April 3, 1995.

Qatar’s national endeavours, along with its engagement in the international efforts dedicated to promoting and protecting the child’s rights primarily stem from the principles enshrined in the permanent constitution of the state, which states that the state’s foreign policy underpins the principle of respect for human rights and repudiation of violence.

The permanent constitution of the Qatar has prioritised special care for childhood and motherhood and underscored that family is the core foundation of society, as the law regulates the ample means of protecting the family, safeguarding motherhood, childhood and ageing.

The State of Qatar’s interest in child’s rights and protection is substantiated by the establishment of several governmental and non-governmental institutions relevant to protection of child’s rights and implementing everything related to the provisions of the international convention with its comprehensive and indivisible sense.