The global economic crisis is an obstacle to the welfare of children, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has said, speaking at a reception Thursday evening at the Presidential Palace, on the occasion of the 16th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC).
The President expressed his full support to the humanitarian work of the European Ombudspersons for Children, pointing out that “the future is for the children.”
The conference under the title “Juvenile Delinquency: Justice-friendly-Structures and Procedures for Prevention and Intervention” is under the auspices of Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
“I believed that the children would be very happy nowadays, but unfortunately the global economic crisis is an obstacle to their welfare,” he said.
He added that in other parts of the world such as Asia and Africa, children suffer, even die because of poverty, and called for solidarity in the effort to help children around the world.
Addressing President Christofias, Cypriot Commissioner for Children`s Rights Leda Koursoumba said that the issues discussed during ENOC were of great importance for Cyprus.
She referred to the debate before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs to reform national legislation on juvenile delinquency, in order to harmonize it with international conventions relating to children’s rights.
