Arab Parliament for the Child welcomes delegations to Sharjah
Djibouti and Palestine Among the First to Arrive
Djibouti and Palestine were the first delegations to arrive at UAE airports, followed by the remaining participating countries: Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Iraq, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Lebanon, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In total, 14 countries are represented, with 56 child parliamentarians accompanied by official representatives from their national parliaments and child-focused institutions.
Warm Reception at UAE Airports
Delegations were warmly welcomed by reception teams from the General Secretariat of the Arab Parliament for the Child, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Sharjah Consultative Council and the Parliament's institutional partners. Children and accompanying officials were received with generous Emirati hospitality, provided with all necessary facilities, transported to their accommodation in Sharjah, and briefed on the session's schedule and planned activities.
A Dialogue Platform on Cultural Identity
The event forms part of the Arab Parliament for the Child's commitment to empowering Arab children to voice their perspectives on childhood issues, enhance their dialogue skills, and strengthen their awareness of Arab cultural identity. This year, the child parliamentarians will discuss the theme 'The Cultural Identity of the Arab Child' during a wide-ranging dialogue session that reflects their visions and provides a pioneering Arab model of parliamentary work for children.
Message from the Secretary-General
On this occasion, His Excellency Ayman Othman Al Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child, welcomed the arrival of the delegations, noting that Sharjah's hosting of this significant event reflects the visionary leadership's dedication to child development.
He said: 'We are pleased to welcome Arab child parliamentarians from across the region to Sharjah, a city that embraces their dreams and offers them a platform to speak, engage, and practise their parliamentary roles in a safe and open environment. The participation of 14 Arab countries underscores the growing status of the Arab Parliament for the Child and embodies the spirit of Arab unity for a brighter future for our children.'
Looking Forward to an Enriching Session
Al Barout added: 'We value the institutional partnerships that support the Parliament in fulfilling its mission, and we look forward to a fruitful and enriching session that will broaden the horizons of the Arab child and deepen their connection to their identity and heritage. All of this takes place in an environment that nurtures innovation and meaningful dialogue. The official session, set to open under the dome of the Arab Parliament for the Child, will stand as a meeting point of childhood and leadership, of ideas and aspirations—a moment the Arab world will witness with pride, from east to west.'
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