Today Mr
Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Foreign and European
Affairs and Trade, and Prof. Alfred J. Vella, Rector, University of Malta,
signed an agreement for a pilot project of a virtual summer school in Child
Protection and the Prevention of Grave Violations against Children in Armed
Conflict.
This
pilot project is being organised together with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN
Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC) in collaboration
with the University of Malta to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a benchmark,
state-of-the-art virtual summer school in Child Protection and the Prevention
of Grave Violations against Children in Armed Conflict for individuals working
in this field, including Government officials, civil society and child
protection officers.
Malta recognizes
that the roles of the UN, Governments and civil society to protect children
from conflict and violence cannot be overlooked. All actors have a key role in
designing and implementing child protection response programs, including
comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programs that are
gender-sensitive, and they need to work hand in hand, to make child protection
a priority. Malta considers that education is crucial in order to ensure that
all those involved in child protection in conflict areas are given expert
training to be in the best position possible to protect children.
Children
in Armed Conflict is a priority theme of Malta’s term as a
non-permanent member on the UN Security Council for the years 2023 - 2024.
Malta is committed to do its part for the benefit of children who find
themselves in such precarious situations.
