May 30, 2001

Speech of H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. First Lady of Egypt, at the closing of the Pan African Forum on the Future of Children in Africa

Our Dear Children,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

    We are gathered here to adopt the Common African Position, the declaration and its plan of action. This Forum has been a unique and important step forward for the children of Africa. For four days, we examined with utmost care and objectivity the issues affecting African children. They were scrutinized, assessed, understood and effectively addressed. The documents that were drafted, papers delivered and the discussions that took place presented changes and a move to new basic concepts.

    Consensus has been reached on the need for a shift from considering the child as a mere recipient of a service, to an active participant in determining their needs, from considering childhood as a liability to an asset for future growth; from considering children as the property of the family to considering them the responsibility of the state, civil society, the business sector, the family and the international community, from taking statistical averages as a measure to ensuring that not a single child is deprived of any of his/her rights. We moved from making the child a property, to making the child a priority.

    A number of factors contributed to the evolution of these new concepts among which was the partnership between governments, the civil society and the children themselves. Another factor was the extraordinary level of participation in this conference, for which we are very grateful.

    Delegates include 18 First Ladies sharing with us the experiences of their countries, 20 Ministers and 4 Deputy Ministers from the various disciplines touching upon children's issues, enriching our deliberations with their vast knowledge base. The active participation of three distinguished former presidents, and the special guests of the highest caliber ensured that this Forum brings the utmost benefit for our children. This forum has been unique by virtue of the diversity of its participants, thus adding to the wealth of knowledge and experience that transpired during its deliberations. We are greatly indebted to everyone of them for their contribution to the success of our work. Perhaps, the most important factor that moved us to a more civilized concept is the role which children themselves played in the preparation of and participation in the conference. I am indebted to them for the confidence they bestowed upon me, and I reiterate my promise to them to foster their cause wherever I go, especially at UNGASS, and thereafter.

    For this outstanding meeting, we are thankful to the Organisation of African Unity, in the person of his Excellency the Secretary General, Salim Ahmed Salim, for his valuable support and intellectual contribution which made it possible to organize this historic event. I would also like to thank the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Carol Bellamy and her staff for their substantive contribution to the forum and their role in the process of preparing for the forthcoming UN General Assembly Special Session on Children.

    I would also like to thank my sister first Ladies for their efforts on behalf of the war -affected children of Africa, and for their attendance and enriching contribution. This forum has been an historic opportunity for Africa's First Ladies to articulate some key challenges facing the continent, and to take with them shared experiences.

    Civil society and young people held separate meetings before the opening of the Forum itself. These were important meetings in themselves and made significant contributions to the successful outcome of this Forum. The involvement of these groups also reflects the growing partnership between governments and other stakeholders in furthering children’s right.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The African Common Position document includes a declaration and a plan of action. The declaration refers to the decade that went since the Convention on the Rights of the Child came into being and since the summit for children took place. It is crucial to recognize that major changes have happened globally and regionally during this decade. Globalization promises to bring welfare to all, including children, were not fulfilled. It has intensified some existing problems instead. The declaration recognizes the challenges which our countries face and what is awaiting us ahead.

    It is fortunate that the declaration highlights the importance of children's participation in setting goals and policies and in formulating the vision for the future. Ten years ago, few believed that countries will approve and stand behind this novelty which the convention on the Rights of the Child embodied in its articles. Producing a plan of action is a step forward. It is of course understood that such plan is not a blueprint in minute details for every country. It rather gives a framework and guidelines to be implemented with consideration of the context of each country.

    A number of issues stand out as priorities in the plan of action and they are rightly so.

    Notwithstanding the importance of health problems in general, the problem of HIV/AIDS is of specific importance. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a major problem for numerous African countries. All activities included under this item require utmost attention.

    The child's right to education cannot be over emphasized. The plan demands the assistance of all the international community including the World Bank and the IMF. I would request that such assistance comes in the form of grants more than in form of loans. It is appreciable that the plan singles out certain disadvantaged groups of children whose educational right deserves special attention. Those include the handicapped child, the working child, the nomadic child and the girl child. Fortunately, Egypt has already put child's health and education at the top of its priorities. Education has been considered as a national security strategy.

    The significance of the problem of children in situations of armed conflict was of utmost concern, reflected in having a special session on the subject. The presentation delivered by the child of Sierra Leone telling of his trauma as a forced child soldier was climax to discussion on this problem. The plight of children under foreign occupation, notably the traumatic suffering of the Palestinian child is vividly in our mind. Equally the sufferings of children under sanctions such as-Iraq and Sudan were a source of concern to us.

    In the face of the HIV pandemic and the victims of violence, genocide and war in Africa, children are left to fend for themselves. They are a potential for continued violence, but also a positive potential for leadership and change. It is only through nurturing values in child friendly schools that the positive potentials in children can be triggered.

    Schools will have to replace family loss and children will have to be protected from the trauma and violence of war through those nurturing schools. Education cannot stop at the classical role of imparting knowledge and skills but must actively participate in strengthening a weakened social fabric by fostering morality and values.

    The plan of action addresses special protection to vulnerable children. In this respect we have to confirm with all humility that our countries have not done enough to eliminate child labour, to stop sexual exploitation, and bring an end to all forms of violence particularly female genital mutilation. On the other hand, Egypt has been launching a serious campaign to end such harmful practices with Egyptian NGOs as real partners. The plan of action recognizes that its implementation requires the participation of children and youth as a right, and the community as a responsibility.

    Every child should be enabled to practice his/her rights to participate, and to have the relevant facts and information on which to build his/her views. An atmosphere of democracy has to prevail in the family, in school and in the society at large to make participation possible and effective. Naturally, the central and irreplaceable role of the family, as the foundation for the upbringing of the child, has been repeatedly stressed.

    The Declaration and Plan of Action we have adopted will be taken to the OAU Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, for consideration and support by Africa's Heads of State. It will also be taken forward to the Preparatory Committee for the UN General Assembly Special Session, in order to represent Africa's voice in the " World Fit for Children", which is the central document of the Special Session itself.

    The challenge facing our leaders is no longer to make commitments to goals and aspirations, but to fulfill the obligations that have been solemnly undertaken by the process of acceding to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Realizing the rights of the child is an issue of good governance, and accountable leadership, better policies and better implementation. Our leaders are obliged to work for children and be accountable to them.

    Investing in children is investing in prosperity, peace and stability for tomorrow. If our children are healthy, well-educated and secure, our continent will be able to overcome poverty and compete in the globalized economy.

    The world cannot afford to neglect Africa’s children. Just as world leaders recognize that they must undertake collective action to halt global warming and combat environmental destruction, for the benefit of all, the international community should come to acknowledge that improving the welfare of African children will bring substantial benefits to all. I might even go further to say we could consider sanctions for those states and governments who do not respect child rights.

Distinguished Delegates:

I am quite satisfied that Africa has been able to speak with one voice, a strong, dedicated and committed voice. We must make Africa's presence felt at the UN General Assembly Special Session in a clear and decisive manner. I am confident that this meeting and its outcomes represent an important step forward towards our common goal of realizing the rights of the child. We have pledged to make these rights a reality. It is our duty to our children to ensure that we succeed. We hope to see the committee of experts, referred to in the Charter of the African Child, come soon into being with links with the International Committee on the Rights of the Child to synchronize and coordinate their work.

    Finally, I would like to say that with all your precious efforts there is a window of hope that has been opened for the African child. Let us keep that window open. I am sure that we are going to follow up on this meeting through the implementation of all our commitment.
God Bless Africa and the Children of Africa.