The National Conference ‘Child Protection Reform in Azerbaijan’
National Conference ‘Child protection reform in Azerbaijan’ dedicated to the Year of Child in Azerbaijan and the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child started October 22 at Gulustan Palace in Baku. Azerbaijan`s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva attended the Conference organized by the Azerbaijani government, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNICEF and Azercell Company.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.
Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Dear friends!
I first of all sincerely greet participants of the conference, say ‘Welcome to Azerbaijan’ to all guests having arrived in our country.
It is very nice that our capital hosts a number of international conferences, summits, meetings lately. Coming together in such meetings political and public figures, scientists, state officials, delegates of non-governmental institutions make contribution to solution of certain problems and help people know each other closer, build a dialog.
It is not secret that the modern world faces a number of global problems, a number of serious questions look for their answer today. Contradiction of civilizations and cultures, military clashes and conflicts ongoing in different points of the world, man-caused tragedies, global climate change, epidemics and pandemics – all are the realities of XXI century and challenges disturbing the world public. Among these problems the issues related to child fate do not lose urgency, almost are of great importance.
I think childhood is the most interesting, unforgettable and happy period in human life. Just in these years the base of the future life of person, its physical and moral health, civic position, humane features is laid. Of course, family, family environment, family upbringing plays irreplaceable role in formation of every person. Devotion to family, family values, care to children, respect to elders is one of the nicest characteristics of Azeri nation. Along centuries this feature has been formed and is traditionally continued today.
Azeri woman is very active today almost in all spheres of our country and has gained a number of achievements in both public structures and private sector. Today Azerbaijani woman says her word and shows her position. Besides, I am quite sure that to every woman her family, children is the most necessary and important part of her life. As a mother of 3 children I value the mission of mother as the most necessary mission in my life. Certainly, every parent wishes its child to grow up healthy, educated, literate, happy and does its best for it.
Unfortunately, there are children who are deprived of parental care, are orphan and trained at the public institutions. Some of these children from the first day of their life, some from early age grow without support, deprived of love of mother and father.
These children have no fault that the fate is so hard and no opportunity to change such hard fortune. I therefore think the life and future of these children should disturb all of us.
From the first day of its establishment Heydar Aliyev Foundation pays attention to the fate of children deprived of parental care, trained at the public institutions. In frame of the Children Homes and Boarding Schools Development Programme the Foundation has capitally repaired and equipped with all necessary appliances 31 public institutions. We try to communicate with children, take interest in their problems, effectively organize their leisure, give them attention and love.
I am very glad this initiative of the Foundation is hugely supported by organizations and individuals. Children homes and boarding schools meeting highest standards operate in Azerbaijan today. High-qualified people work here. But the truth is that the best children home, state-of-the-art boarding school cannot substitute for family environment, family upbringing, parental love.
We are much concerned that the number of children at such institutions grows for the past years. Heydar Aliyev Foundation has established very successful cooperation in this field with international organizations, first of all with UNICEF and implements a number of programmes. State takes very necessary actions in this course and works to be done in future have been scheduled. The State Programme on giving children from the public child institutions to families and alternative care in Azerbaijan for 2006-2015 has been approved. According to the main plan approved this year, 11 public child institutions will be transformed this year and 44 for 3-5 years.
However, I want to mention twice that the fortune, future of children deprived of parental care depends on not only the work of public structures but at the same time activity of international institutions, NGOs, civic society organizations, each of us.
Children is our future, children is the tomorrow of Azerbaijan. Let us not be indifferent to their problems. Let us not forget that just right now there are thousands of orphan children needing our care and love.
I hope today’s conference is very good opportunity for discussion of issues in this field, exchange of experiences and ideas and searching for the ways to settlement of problems. Once again I express my deep gratitude to all participants and organizers of the conference, wish success to the conference, health to each of you. Thank you so much.