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UN representative to discuss anti-bullying with children in upcoming visit to Central Java
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Children participating in the 'Rambut Gimbal Haircut Ruwatan' ritual walk hand-in-hand with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo at Wonosobo Square in Wonosobo regency, Central Java, on Saturday, July 27, 2019. (JP/Courtesy of Central Java Provincial Administration)
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nited Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children Najat Maalla M’jid is set to engage with children in Central Java during her upcoming visit to the province on Thursday.
M’jid is scheduled to engage in a dialogue on the topic of anti-bullying – among other things – with around 100 children across Central Java, including juvenile convicts who are currently staying at a children’s shelter in the provincial capital of Semarang.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi conveyed their enthusiasm for the forthcoming arrival of the UN official during a meeting with a representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Java.
“The governor and the mayor will make children the main audience – the VIP guests – who will interact directly with the representative of the UN Secretary-General,” said UNICEF representative in Java Arie Rukmantara in a statement issued on Monday.
”We truly appreciate [the Central Java administration] taking a stance on the issue. This represents their commitment to the best interests of the children, as well as proof that the province and city are child-friendly,” he added.
He went on to say that both the governor and mayor had intended the planned meeting to champion inclusivity.
M’jid is a Moroccan native who has worked as a pediatrician for the last three decades. She previously served as the director of the Hay Hassani children’s hospital in Casablanca. From 2008 to 2014, M’jid served as a UN special rapporteur on the issue of child trafficking and child porn.
Representatives from the Central Java Children’s Forum, the Semarang Children’s Forum, and children with disabilities groups will have the opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including the role of children as agents of change, Arie added. (rfa)
