The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF), in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, convened a regional workshop via videoconference to address the impact of violence against children. The event brought together government officials responsible for child protection across Arab countries, alongside regional and international experts, specialists, and representatives from relevant organisations.
The workshop was conducted in line with a recommendation from the 21st session of the Committee for Follow-up on Ending Violence Against Children, which Qatar chaired on September 18, 2025. This recommendation emphasized the need to enhance cooperation and coordination among member states and regional and international bodies, urging the organisation of a workshop to raise awareness on preventing violence against children and mitigating its effects.
Opening remarks were made by Lubna Azzam of the Social Affairs Sector’s Family and Childhood Department at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States. Fatima Mohamed al-Nuaimi, director of the Family Development Department at the MSDF, also addressed participants, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to confront this critical issue.
During the workshop, participants explored avenues to reinforce joint Arab initiatives aimed at responding to violence against children. Discussions centered on exchanging expertise, sharing regional and international best practices in prevention, protection, and response, and promoting a unified understanding of relevant international frameworks and standards for safeguarding children from all forms of violence.
A particular focus was placed on digital violence targeting children, with participants reviewing established mechanisms for prevention, protection, and response. The workshop also examined systems for monitoring, reporting, referral, professional intervention, and case management, seeking to develop an integrated child protection system capable of enhancing the effectiveness of responses to violence-related cases.
In addition, the workshop considered outcomes from the Global Conference on Violence Against Children held in Bogota and the commitments made by Arab countries during the event. Discussions addressed practical ways to translate these commitments into actionable measures and initiatives that bolster national and regional efforts to create safe and supportive environments for children.
The session concluded with a series of practical recommendations designed to strengthen collaboration and coordination among Arab states. Emphasis was placed on developing child protection mechanisms, addressing the consequences of violence, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and building institutional and professional capacities of the entities involved in child protection.