AMMAN — The Jordanian Children’s
Parliament, first formed in June 2019, held its opening session on Saturday.
The
parliament was formed with 4 members from
each governorate, and 6 from Amman, between the ages of 10-17 years, with an
equal gender ratio, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
اضافة اعلان
The parliament was formed according to criteria
such as candidates’ experience in volunteering, leadership, educational
attainment, and social skills.
Fifty members of the children’s parliament
collectively took the constitutional oath during the opening session, which was
presided over by the oldest member, assisted by the two youngest members
present, and began with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an.
The Children’s Parliament is one component of a
plan to implement the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified
by Jordan. The program will allow children from different parts of the country
to meet, consult, and express their views on a number of national issues,
especially those that concern children, as well consolidate a culture of
citizenship and democratic values among rising generations.
The attendees of the opening session included a
representative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson
of the Parliamentary Women and Family Affairs Committee Abeer Jabour, Minister
of Culture Ali Al-Ayed, and Secretary General of the Arab Parliament for the
Child Ayman Al-Barout.
Jabour expressed her hope that the meetings of
the current session of the Jordanian edition will come out with recommendations
that open the horizons for solutions to problems of concern to children.
The Parliamentary Women and Family Affairs
Committee confirmed to cooperate with the parliament in a way that preserves
women's rights, with the family having its strength and cohesion, and the child
having the elements of a decent living. Issues that concern childhood, especially
online schooling in the pandemic, will be provided with solutions and proposals
that address gaps and maximize achievements.
The Minister of Culture, Ali Al-Ayed, said that
the meeting, which comes in the midst of the celebration of the centenary of Jordan,
represents the true translation of the Aspiration for the Future program, which
was organized by the Ministry of Culture as part of a national plan for the
centenary celebrations.
For his part, Barout praised holding of the
session amid the challenging COVID-19. He emphasized “the impact of the
coronavirus on children psychologically, health, educational and social,”
hoping that the contribution of the parliament will be positive in addressing
the impact of the pandemic on children, and come up with useful
recommendations.
He called for diligence as much as possible to
turn the challenge posed by the repercussions resulting from the COVID-19
pandemic” into a blessing, through self-preservation, and the use of all the
features made available by the Internet that help in developing culture and
refining skills. He praised the children of Jordan who participate in the
Children’s Parliament.
The head of the Jordanian children parliament,
Ismail Eyal Salman, gave a speech after assuming the presidency, during which
he indicated that the parliament’s mandate is to prepare a generation capable
of taking responsibility and promoting social values. He stressed the
parliament’s keenness to confront all obstacles facing the Jordanian child.
Salman explained that the parliament's work in
the next stage will depend on studying complex issues facing Jordanian youth
and suggesting solutions worked out through discussions among members.
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