November 16, 2011

The 2nd All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children was held by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, State Committee for Family, Woman and Child Problems and UNICEF Azerbaijan Office

The 2nd All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children was held by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, State Committee for Family, Woman and Child Problems and UNICEF Azerbaijan Office, November 16.


Chairwoman of State Committee for Family, Woman and Child Problems Hijran Huseynova read out the congratulatory letter by President Ilham Aliyev to the Forum, which brought 350 children from 85 districts together.


A video on the child policy was presented.


President Ilham Aliyev and President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva were declared Friends of Children at the Forum.


Deputy Premier Elchin Efendiyev said assurance of children’s rights in Azerbaijan and solution of their problems is one of the priority directions in the state policy. High quality education and health services for children, their growth in the healthy moral and social environment, contributing to their formation as a complete personality and citizen is a key principle in Azerbaijan’s state child policy.


Mr Efendiyev noted started by national leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev, this policy has been formed as a national strategy. The attention First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva pays in the past years to children affairs has strengthened the care to this sphere. Heydar Aliyev Foundation performs significant projects for the intellectual development of children, for their growth as healthy people with high culture.


The Deputy Premier mentioned our society attaches huge importance to reducing the child death rates, prevention of child diseases, their growth in a creative environment and involvement in sports. A state care to children needing a special care, also children from families with low income, many children, from refugee and IDP families is very necessary. Over 30 state programmes for children are underway in the country and they are of huge importance for the formation and implementation of the united state child policy.


Milli Mejlis Deputy Speaker Bahar Muradova said legislative acts on children’s rights are adopted since 1998. The parliament has adopted more than 10 laws, totally 72 laws and 11 codes reflect children’s rights. The Azerbaijani legislation has plenty of serious grounds for the realization of these rights, formation of children as a healthy and educated person, protection of their all social rights, development of juvenile justice and implementation of the children’s economic policy.


Mrs Muradova stressed legislation envisages certain issues to eliminate difficulties caused by the Daghlig Garabagh problem.


Noting the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Head of the UNICEF Azerbaijan Office Mark Hereward said one of the rights stated in the Convention is that every youth under 18 years old is entitled to participate in the adoption of decisions related to processes impacting its life.


M.Hereward underlined the Azerbaijani government and Heydar Aliyev Foundation carry out significant projects to improve life of children and youth, wished success to the Forum. He noted within the Forum children will analyze the problems and difficulties and try to find ways to solve them, and called on everyone to take active part in the discussions.


Live connection was provided in the event with Sumgayit, Barda, Lankaran, Khachmaz and Zagatala.


A concert of children was presented, discussions held on the themes ‘Equal rights to all children’, ‘New education standards’, ‘Let’s spend our leisure fruitfully’, ‘Let’s protect environment’, ‘Realities of Garabagh in children’s language’, ‘Let’s love and deserve the motherland’, ‘Responsibility of family and society in formation of children as a personality’.


Coordination Board comprised of children was set up in the Forum.


Declaration was adopted in the event.


The Forum adopted an address to President Ilham Aliyev.