Dubai: Every 30 seconds, 35 children around the world become refugees.
In light of the growing number of displaced families, women and children in the Middle East, Dr Ghada Wali, Egypt’s Minister of Social, discussed the need for all countries in the region to create a unified registration system for refugees who have fled areas of war and conflict and are moving into neighbouring countries.
“This system should document all their details from their family background to their educational and health situation and should include programmes especially for refugee children,” said Ghada at the ‘Investing in the Future: protecting refugee children and adolescents’ conference.
She called on governments in the region to work together to respond to the influx of refugees coming into their countries by providing them with a chance of a better life. Each government should also work to implement educational, social and health-care progammes in their communities to aid refugees through their adjustment period, she said. “It is very important to spread awareness about the refugee situation in the community so that residents are also accepting and willing to assist in helping refugees through the adjustment period.”
More awareness needed
Another speaker at the conference, Zainab Hawa Bangura, Undersecretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, also highlighted the importance of spreading awareness about the sexual violence thousands of refugee children are subjected to.
“Sexual violence against children is everyone’s business,” said Zainab. Many cases go unreported because the victims are too traumatized, ashamed and scared to speak out. “Why do they go unreported? Simply because the questions have not been asked,” explained Zainab.
For some children, the pain doesn’t stop at the experience of displacement, loss, and the fear of separation from family members. Many children who have managed to flee areas of conflict are being subjected to sexual violence at refugee camps, said Zainab.
She added that targeting children through sexual violence is a tactic used in wars to guarantee havoc and separation in a community with no exceptions made for any culture, race or religion.
Highlighting the obvious need for action, Zainab agreed with other speakers that governments and organisations should ensure the continuity of their aid, services and attention to protect the rights of refugee children.
