Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here today representing the Delegation of the European Commission in Lebanon, at the launching of the project entitled “Stop Child Soldiers”, a Project which overall objective is to support the ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the rights of the child on the Involvement of children in armed conflicts;

Let me start first with a few words about the importance of children’s rights.

Children are key stakeholders in our future therefore guaranteeing both protection and respect for their rights are essential elements in securing a better future for them. In short, children’s rights are not optional, they are not on sale and they cannot be considered less dear or cheaper than those of adults. Securing a better future for children and young people growing up in Lebanon goes to the heart of any development & building process in the country.

Why should we be concerned with promoting children’s rights?

Because the rights enjoyed by children are effective only when people are aware of them, assert them and defend them.

I am thinking, for example, of the right for children to protection and care, the right to have their best interests taken into consideration at all times, the right to maintain direct contact with their parents or their right to play. So what can we say about the situation of children and young people in Lebanon? Although Lebanon does not face challenges such as widespread problems of malnutrition, access to education, child labour and child prostitution however there is still a great need to address many serious problems faced by the Lebanese children and much work is still needed to ensure that all children’s rights are respected throughout the country, without discrimination of any kind;

All Lebanese, through their government, community and professional organizations, schools and even businesses need to take greater responsibility to ensure that no child misses out on the enjoyment of her or his inherent human rights. It is therefore clear that Lebanon has international obligations to protect these children as outlined in the world’s most ratified Convention: “Convention on the rights of the Child”>