Oman participates in regional conference on preventing violations against children

Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the regional conference on preventing grave violations against children, Oman News Agency (ONA) said.

A statement issued by ONA said: "The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Minister of Social Development, participated via video conference in the regional conference on preventing grave violations against children in armed conflicts, chaired by the State of Qatar with the participation of Arab countries and a number of representatives of international, specialised and private organisations."

The meeting reviews the tireless efforts made by all sectors in developing strategies, plans and programs aimed at protecting children and preventing grave violations against them in armed conflicts.

In addition to that, the exchange of expertise and experiences in this regard enhances access to the best Arab and international practices.

The meeting includes three dialogue sessions. The first session, titled 'Best Practices on Preventing Grave Violations against Children in Armed Conflicts', discussed research on the roots of conflicts, the importance of promoting peaceful dispute resolution activities, and its impact on achieving sustainable development goals related to childhood.

In addition to that, discussion was conducted on violations against children in the Arab region and their impact on national and regional prevention efforts, as well as discussion on national and regional strategies to identify threats and risks related to grave violations and highlighting current prevention efforts.

The second session, entitled 'Emerging Thematic Issues to Advance Child Protection and Prevent Grave Violations', discussed a number of points such as protecting and promoting the rights of children with disabilities in situations of armed conflict, measures to protect the right to education for children affected by armed conflict, and the impact of climate change on children in conflict situations, as well as armed forces in issues related to displacement, food insecurity and environmental degradation.

The session also discussed important challenges related to the reintegration of children associated with armed forces into their communities, and addressing the impact of armed conflict on children's mental health and psychosocial well-being.

The third session, entitled 'Strengthening Regional Cooperation on Preventing Grave Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict', highlighted two topics; Good practices in regional cooperation to prevent grave violations, and addressing the strategic activation of the comprehensive plan of the League of Arab States to end the recruitment of children in conflict.