Suez Cement sponsors International Conference on 20th anniversary of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Cairo, 24 November 2009. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the General Assembly of the United Nations and the establishment of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Suez Cement group of Companies sponsored the International conference on “The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Islamic Jurisprudence” organized by the Egypt’s Ministry of Family and Population.
This international event took place in Cairo on 23-24 of November 2009 and it was held under the auspices of the First Lady Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. The conference was an opportunity for Islamic States to exchange views and experiences on ways and means to harmonize the understanding of the CRC in the light of the Islamic Law by identifying complementarities between the two, thus mitigating potential conflicts.
Since 2007, Suez Cement group of Companies and NCCM have undertaken several initiatives focused on protecting the children rights by providing them birth certificates, ensuring the child’s rights to education, raising environmental and health awareness, support medical care and health standards, improve recreational and sports activities as well as enhance the economic and social standards.
“Suez Cement greatly appreciated the excellent cooperation we have enjoyed with NCCM. Thanks to our partnership we have experienced many challenges and achieved great results. Our joint-project has mapped and addressed many issues regarding the protection of women and children’s rights with particular focus on the right to Education. In fact, Education is crucial to the development of human capacities and can play a central role in the elimination of poverty”, said Roberto Callieri, Managing Director of Suez Cement.
To date Suez Cement managed to upgrade six schools in Helwan and Tourah districts, developed two medical and health centers in Kafr El Elw and el Maasara areas, implemented 20 environmental camps involving 10 schools, 17 NGOs, 64 teachers and 1300 students to develop “green corner” spirit in schools and public places and organized several awareness-raising activities on children’s rights.
In his speech addressed to the session “Child poverty and the role of International Co-operation” Mr. Callieri pointed to the necessity to fight against poverty, through education and the promotion of the human rights.
“The young generation is a precious resource, and the current economic and financial crisis especially highlights the need to nurture young human capital. Each child deprived of an education and the right to enjoy his or her childhood is a child whose potential will never be fulfilled. It is not enough to make education available to all children, the quality of education needs to be improved too. Children’s empowerment and the future are interconnected. Suez Cement is looking forward to the future of our Egyptian children with optimism and energy” added Mr. Callieri.
