Social Affairs Minister: Joining efforts to combat child begging

Damascus, SANA- Minister of Social Affairs Rima al-Qadri stressed the importance that civil society and ministries join efforts to protect children and combat begging and homelessness and addressing the causes of these phenomena.

In a statement following her visit to the center of rehabilitating child beggars at Massar Center in Damascus, al- Qadri pointed out the importance of coordination between civil associations and the ministry to help and protect children whose circumstances forced them to beg or work and bring them back to school.

For his part, Ahmad Abdul- Muti from “Sayyar” initiative said in a statement to SANA that since launching the initiative in 2014, it targeted child beggars to support and teach them =in cooperation with “Mubaderoun” group and “Massar” which offered a building in which 45 children are gathered where they engage in activities and acquire the basics in reading and writing in addition to teaching them simple handicrafts that enable them to earn their living.

In turn, Ibrahim al-Rayes from “Massar” project noted that “Sayyar” and “Massar” have the same aims in teaching children and instilling sublime values in them, pointing out the importance of cooperation between local society and parties concerned to activate the initiative in all the provinces.

In January, Ministry of Social Affairs and the Syrian Commission for Family and Population Affairs issued a document to protect children in Syria in coordination with the Ministries of Justice, Interior and Education. The document was ratified by the Cabinet.

The document included a detailed description of the cases related to child protection, recruiting children in hostilities, sexual and physical abuse, trafficking, begging and homelessness as well as cases of child labor and those who lack family care, school dropout and the registration of children.

Qabas/ Manal

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