RIYADH: Students from leading local schools in the capital had a free and frank discussion with four government ministers during the youth session on the third day of the Arab ISPCAN Regional Conference on Child Protection.
One of the participating students asked the government to incorporate the International Convention on the Rights of Child in their school syllabus. “We want to know our rights according to local and international laws,” he said amidst applause from the audience. “Learning these laws and ethics at school would help us become vigilant in society to fight abuse and violence.”
Deputy Minister of Health Mansour Al-Hawasi, Minister of Social Affairs Yousuf Al-Othaimeen, Minister of Education Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, and Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja took part in the discussion, which was moderated by Dr. Maha Al-Muneer.
Girl students demanded that sports should be included in their curriculum. They also called for the establishment of a hotline to contact the authorities to report child abuse.
Another student requested the Ministry of Health to impose a strict tab on all imported food, which contain harmful dyes.
“A few food items that contain harmful substances are found in the open market,” he said, adding that these products are banned in other countries.
He appealed to the Ministry of Health to look into this problem and take action to remove such harmful items from the shelves.
Al-Hawasi said the Ministry of Health would appoint a special committee to look into the harmful ingredients in imported food items. He said the ministry would not only remove such products from store shelves but also take proper action against people responsible for importing such items, if any.
Minister of Education Prince Faisal congratulated the students who made constructive suggestions for their own betterment.
He pledged their demands would be considered and assured them of speedy reforms.
Describing it as an open discussion between youth and policy makers, Maha Al-Muneer said she was happy the forum became an effective tool for the two parties to interact.
