Feb. 18, 2002

Children's rights, given top priority in country's policy

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak Sunday said that the rights of children occupy special priority in the country's policy.

    "Egypt was foremost among countries which provided this human and development right at the international level and was among the pioneering countries which drafted the international children's rights agreement," she said.

    Mrs. Mubarak, who chairs the Technical Consultative Committee of the National Childhood and Motherhood Council, Sunday handed prizes to winners in a competition of children's drawings which was arranged by the Council. More than 1500 children, of both sexes, took part in the competition.

    Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak said that drawing was among the important arts and forms a basis for artistic and educational activities to promote the abilities of future generations.

    Drawing reflects different aspects of intelligence and is "an important asset of the genius of future generations," she said.

    On girls education and women status Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, who chairs the Executive Consultative committee of the National Childhood and Motherhood Council, said that improving the status of women and giving Egyptian girls a full chance of continued education is "imperative in order to realise development which we aspire to achieve in all domains."

    "The improvement (in the status of women) which we seek can be realised through women's participation in the various political, economic, social and development activities and ensuring that they receive their fair share of the return of social development as a whole," she said.

    In an address Sunday at a meeting held under the title of "girls education initiative," Mrs. Mubarak said the education of girls is an integral part of overall human development in Egypt.