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Afghanistan's religious leaders commit to children's rights

Gathering of imams urges promotion of improved health, education and protection

KABUL, 25 March 2004 – Religious leaders from eastern Afghanistan committed themselves this week to promoting the rights of children and women to education, health and protection from abuse and exploitation, as the first of a series of nationwide workshops closed in Jalalabad on Wednesday 24 March.

52 imams and other religious figures from four provinces in eastern Afghanistan spent three days discussing ways of developing messages that can be disseminated at community level by religious leaders to improve opportunities for women and children. The closing declaration of the workshop committed participants to providing awareness on safe motherhood, birth registration, education for girls and boys and the prevention of child labour, child trafficking and the use of children in armed groups.

The religious leader’s declaration stated that “Now Afghanistan is moving towards rehabilitation and reconstruction, there is a need for safer motherhood, child care and development, protection and education of children.” The workshop participants identified six key areas around which they will now work to assist other religious leaders at district and village level to advocate on children’s and women’s rights.

These areas included providing information on risks in pregnancy and childbirth, and raising awareness of the importance of adequate medical care for expectant mothers, promoting the birth registration of children, advocating for immunization of children against disease, encouraging the practice of birth spacing to reduce potential risks to mothers and their children, identifying ways of increasing educational opportunities for boys and girls, and awareness raising on protection issues such as child labour and trafficking.

Speaking at the closing session of the workshop, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Karin Sham Poo – who is paying a seven day visit to Afghanistan – told participants that throughout history, the leaders of Islam had held a unique position as communicators of wisdom, compassion, devotion and good counsel and described the decision of religious leaders in Afghanistan to promote children’s rights as one of courage and vision.

“I wish to congratulate you especially for your commitment to education for all,” she said. “Islam is a religion based very much upon the importance of education. With education comes understanding. With education comes tolerance. With education comes peace, stability and prosperity. These are all values that lie at the heart of Islam.”

UNICEF considers the religious community to be a vital partner in ensuring improved opportunities for women and children. Working with the Afghan Ministry of Religious Affairs, UNICEF is supporting a series of similar workshops throughout Afghanistan in 2004, with the aim of reach 50,000 religious leaders. The workshops are designed to help the religious community develop effective communication strategies for promoting key rights of women and children.

For more information please contact:

Edward Carwardine, UNICEF Media – Kabul +93 (0)702 74729

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