The 1st Forum of Children of Azerbaijan starts in Baku
December 17, the 1st Forum of Children of Azerbaijan initiated by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, State Committee for Family, Woman and Child Problems and “Nur” Child and Youth Public Union started in Baku.
The event, which is dedicated to the results of the “Year of Child” in Azerbaijan and the 20th anniversary of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, involved over 250 children from regions of the republic. The Forum, presenters of which were children, discussed all issues concerning them.
The Forum started with national anthem of Azerbaijan.
A letter of congratulation by Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, to the Forum participants was read out.
The letter says children are the tenderest part of our society. Care and love a person receives in childhood guarantee its future physical health, moral purity and wealth. We can with honor say society in Azerbaijan has become the pattern of the best attitude and care to children throughout the history. Nice circumstances have been created today for children to grow and be brought up under healthy conditions, study in educational institutions meeting the corresponding standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Afandiyev stressed the significance of the Forum. He said the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international document, which thoroughly protects the rights of the child. The state of Azerbaijan has presented 4 periodic reports to the respective committee of UN, which indicates the growing attention in the republic to the field.
Complete assurance of child rights, solution of child problems is one of priority courses of the state policy carried out in our country in this field. It is not by chance that even during the global economic crisis Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev declared 2009 the “Year of Child”.
Assuring children with high quality education and medical service meeting high world standards, rendering huge all-round to them, creating necessary circumstances for them, forming the growing generation as worthy citizen are major principles of the state child policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan sourced from traditions of great leader Heydar Aliyev.
Mr. Afandiyev said President Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, show high concern about Azerbaijani children. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation implements numerous projects to solve problems of the child, assure their comprehensive development, provide modern education and medical service to them, he said. Conference “Reform for protection of children in Azerbaijan” the Azeri Government held this October with UN was a strong stimulus to works done in this direction.
Mr. Afandiyev said Law “On the Rights of the Child” was passed in Azerbaijan in 1999. National legislation and legal acts have been improved, a number of state programmes on child right protection adopted. Up to now, over 30 state programs are being realized to solve the problems of the child.
One of duties is in the field envisages involving the public, NGOs, private sector, international organizations in solution of other issues, implement enlightenment actions in regions for healthy lifestyle.
Deputy Chairperson of Milli Majlis Bahar Muradova said about 15 conventions have been ratified in the parliament, decrees and orders signed by President Ilham Aliyev, numerous state programmes adopted to protect the rights of the children. A perfect legal base has been created to completely realize the child rights, develop potential of every child.
Chairperson of the State Committee on Problems of Family, Woman and Child Hijran Huseynova said the successful social policy, reforms carried out in the country allow the future citizens of Azerbaijan to look into the future more confidently. “Year of the Child” announced in Azerbaijan in 2009 will attract the state structures and the public to the problems of children. Important actions have been taken in the past years to strengthen the child health, provide high-level education to them.
Assessing declaration of 2009 the “Year of Child” by President Ilham Aliyev as very significant event for children, Chairperson of “Nur” Union Sevinc Muradova said the government does all possible for Azerbaijani children to leave happily and get a higher education.
Speakers noted Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva has been awarded the “Golden Heart” Prize of the Forum.
The Forum was continued in working groups, which held discussions and presentations on the most important themes relating to children with participation of experts.
An address to President Ilham Aliyev and a Final Declaration will be adopted at the Forum, which is to end on December 18.
