ACCD Lights up Headquarters in Blue

The Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD) lights up its headquarters in blue on the occasion of World Children's Day, which is celebrated annually on the 20th of November.

This came in response to the United Nations campaign to illuminate world-famous landmarks in blue, on this occasion that provides an opportunity to promote international unity, awareness among children worldwide and improving children's welfare.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal, the President of ACCD stated that World Children's Day is an opportunity to assess the progress made in the areas of child rights globally.

However, it comes this year while the world is suffering from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that undermined many gains and left behind a major economic, social, and health crisis, which its knock-on effects will continue over generations unless we all take action to confront it at all levels. He also called for action, cooperation and solidarity in order to recover from this crisis and save the upcoming future in all aspects, as well as to create a more just, inclusive, sustainable, creative, and environmentally friendly world, so our children would enjoy health, protection, and development.

In continuation with its efforts in protecting children from COVID-19, and to celebrate World Children's Day, ACCD organized a Webinar Conference entitled "COVID-19 Pandemic and Child Rights: From Crisis to Opportunity" during this week, under the auspices of Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal.

The aim of the Conference was to shed light on the effects of Covid-19 on child rights while working to transform the pandemic from a crisis to a real opportunity towards a better change and to rebuild the post-Corona world for a more inclusive and sustainable world. More than 100 participants attended this Conference, representing international and regional organizations working in the field of childhood, as well the concerned experts and media.

The Conference stressed the importance of paying attention to the issues of childhood and make them top priorities in the coming stage in which the whole world and children, in particular, suffer from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Ted Chaiban, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, delivered a speech at the opening session of the Conference. He pointed out that COVID-19 is impacting the life of every child in this region, and we are at the risk that an additional 51000 children under the age of five might die, an increase of 40% from pre-pandemic times. Moreover, 9 million children in the region have missed out on their scheduled polio and measles vaccines with the postponement of campaigns.

The pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in recent history. Mr. Chaiban also referred to the social consequences of the pandemic including violence, especially gender-based violence. He called for promoting the continuity of learning, an investment in bridging the digital gap to make learning available for every child, and strengthening the social protection system to reach the most vulnerable households.

ACCD is an Arab regional non-governmental organization that has a legal entity and operating in the field of childhood under the presidency of Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz.