WomenGateway - Algeria pushes for more protection of children

WG Correspondent- Algeria

The Algerian Minister of Family and Women Nawara Sadiya has presented last year the National Action Plan for the Protection of Rights of the Child 2008-2015 that includes the millennium goals for a segment of them.

The Minister affirmed to the Higher Education, Scientific Research and Religious Affairs at the National Public Council- the lower house- the importance of the plan as it comes with a comprehensive and integrated vision to improve the rights of children in all aspects.

The Algerian government has launched the plan in February 2008 that was launched in association with experts and NGOs. It contains basic priorities to improve children rights. The plan comes as part of Algeria’s commitments to UN millennium goals, decided in 1990.

The launching plan will be comprehensively in 2015 and will be followed with more connective plans. The plan comes in relation with Algeria being one of 192 countries that signed the Child Protection Agreement.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of conducting more research and studies to know the progress of children rights and the needs of younger generations.

According to the National Statistic Bureau, children below five represent 8.5 per cent of total 35 million population, while 19.5 per cent of Algerians are children of the age group 5 to 14. Special needs individuals represent 2.4 per cent of population and 0.1 per cent of them of the age group 0 to 19.