Health Minister decides to reform supreme cmte on child protection

KUWAIT, Dec 30 (KUNA) -- Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadi made a decision on Tuesday on restructuring the national higher committee of child rights' protection, under the leadership of the undersecretary, to boost government efforts aiming to preserve these rights.
In a press release, the ministry said the step came in line with a full national policy to face violence and maltreatment against children, and develop policies and plans which protect this category and enhance services to them.
The committee includes a number of representatives of the Ministries of Health, Interior, Education, Justice and Social Affairs, and some agencies that shows integration to bolster efforts and coordinate roles to protect children, it added.
The ministerial decision has granted the committee broader powers to enable it to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to protect children from violence and abuse. The committee's tasks begin with proposing necessary legislations and policies to ensure strong legal protection, review existing regulations and decisions, and develop them in line with current realities, it noted It works to provide healthcare, and psychological and social services for children who are victims of violence and neglect, in addition to developing appropriate therapeutic and rehabilitation programs for this group, it stated.
Moreover, the committee plays an important role in providing financial and moral support, shelter, and counseling services for children who need protection, along developing training programs for personnel dealing with cases of violence to enhance professional competence. The statement indicated that the committee further seeks to establish an integrated national database to monitor and analyze cases of abuse and to develop solutions based on scientific evidence. (end) mnm.hm