A report issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the situation of Arab children has improved over the last decade but there still remain many areas that need to be addressed.
The organization presented the highlights of its report, An Arab World Fit For Children, which reviews the situation of children in Arab countries.
The report said the 1990s saw major progress in the region. There was a reduction in child mortality rates as well as major improvements in immunization, access to clean water and increased percentages of children in school, the report said.
However, some 7.5 million Arab children are still out of school, while 13.5 million are working, it added. Several million are affected by armed conflict or threatened by other forms of violence, abuse and lack of opportunities to participate in decision-making.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Rima Salah said other issues that need to be addressed are curriculum reform, AIDS and the status of young girls in society.
The report also said protection of children in the Arab world needs to be enhanced because children continue to be a target of sexual exploitation and “traditional harmful practices” such as early marriages, honor killing and female genital mutilation.