The Kingdom of Bahrain participates in the meetings of the Arab Childhood and Family Committees of the League of Arab States

26-09-2023

The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Ministry of Social Development, participated in the meetings of the 27th session of the Arab Childhood Committee and the 13th session of the Arab Family Committee, which were organized by the Department of Women, Family and Children in the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, under the presidency of the Republic of Tunisia, via video communication technology. During the speech given by the Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Community Development, Professor Enas Mohammed Al-Majed, at the Arab Family Committee, she stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain, based on its firm commitment to strengthening and developing the role of the family, seeks to build a strong and sustainable society, noting in this context the importance of support and guidance for families in all countries. aspects of her life, pointing to the family counseling program provided by the Ministry, which includes individual family counseling and development and preventive programs that cover several axes such as protection from violence, developing family relationships, qualifying those about to marry, and other programs required by the needs of the beneficiaries of these programs. She also referred to the “Family Care” program, which is implemented by the Family Guidance and is concerned with implementing the provisions for visiting and seeing children of separated and divorced people through social centers, in implementation of the articles of the Children’s Law No. 37 of 2012, to ensure the child’s right to visit his parents in a safe atmosphere, as these visits contribute to consolidating relationships. Family counseling has a positive impact on the child’s mental health, and ensures that the child continues to receive educational and social care through meeting with his parents on a regular and safe basis, and avoids the psychological effects on the child of stopping these family visits, stressing that all these programs are carried out by certified family guidance specialists who have been trained. The necessary specialization to enhance family communication and solve problems in constructive ways. Moreover, the Assistant Undersecretary for Community Development explained the financial support programs provided by the Ministry of Social Development directed to groups of families with limited income, with the aim of enhancing their economic stability and improving their quality of life, as well as projects aimed at strengthening the family economy, most notably the Productive Home Program under the name (Step). , which aims to enable families to achieve self-sufficiency and generate sustainable income. In her speech before the Arab Childhood Committee, she explained the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of child protection in the digital world, where she indicated Bahrain’s interest in protecting children in cyberspace, by raising the level of awareness and understanding of children’s rights, in addition to carrying out a number of lectures for all concerned about cybercrimes. Related to children, including sexual exploitation and the danger of electronic games, in addition to lectures and workshops on electronic addiction, electronic crimes, and safe ways to use the Internet in a number of public and private schools in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It also reviewed Bahrain's efforts in this regard through the establishment of a unit and office for child protection in cyberspace, where the unit receives children from the age group of those who are 18 years or less, as part of Bahrain's strategy to provide comprehensive protection for children through cyberspace. While the Office for Child Protection in Cyberspace receives children under 15 years of age, which indicates that this age group does not bear any criminal responsibility, in the building of the General Administration for Combating Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security at the Ministry of Interior, where complaints and reports are received, in addition to recording statements. Child defendants regarding complaints or reports attributed to them, and taking the necessary legal measures to ensure that they are provided with the necessary protection. She pointed out that the office works to create a suitable and comfortable environment for the child, and aims to make children aware of the dangers they may be exposed to when they use various applications, programs and platforms spread across cyberspace, as well as spreading a culture of proper behavior towards these dangers in a way that protects them and prevents them from falling as victims of such dangers. Notifications.