Tunisia hosts 8th meeting of Architectural and Urban Heritage Observatory in the Arab StatesParents urged to create equal, conducive environment for children with special needs

The proceedings of the eighth meeting of the Architectural and Urban Heritage Observatory in the Arab States, a mechanism under the Arab Organisation for Education, Culture, and Science (ALECSO), commenced on Monday at the ALECSO headquarters. The event saw the participation of specialists and experts from 18 Arab nations. The ongoing meeting, which will continue until December 19, delves into mechanisms to invigorate the activities of the Observatory and the Registry of Arab Urban Heritage. The agenda includes a special session to assess the damages inflicted upon architectural and urban heritage, culminating in the formulation of pertinent recommendations. ALECSO Director-General Mohamed Ould Amar underscored at the inauguration of the meeting the ALECSO's commitment to sustaining the meetings of this Observatory. He emphasised its pivotal role in implementing numerous projects and programmes associated with this heritage across Arab nations. He also addressed the heightened dangers and risks confrontin g architectural and urban heritage, exacerbated in the current year due to natural disasters such as the recent earthquake in the Al Haouz region of Morocco, floods in the Libyan city of Derna, and the looming threats of armed conflicts and wars, notably in Sudan as well as in the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Furthermore, he highlighted that the Observatory's action programme hinges on several key pillars, including dissemination, promotion, enhancement, and technical and legal support. This encompasses drafting plans, reviewing legislations, and Arab countries' support in removing their sites from UNESCO's red list. In her address, Minister of Cultural Affairs Hayet Guettat Guermazi underscored the significant efforts deployed to preserve architectural and urban heritage as an integral part of the heritage of medinas and their historical monuments. She emphasised that awareness of this heritage's importance requires the adoption of a coherent strategy, integrating it into the economic, social, and cultural dev elopment processes. The ministry prioritises heritage preservation and valorisation in its orientations and strategies. It is noteworthy that these two days will also provide an opportunity to examine the impact of conflicts and crises on architectural and urban heritage in several Arab countries, including Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Inaugurated in October 2016, the observatory aims to preserve and valorise architectural and urban heritage in Arab countries, positioning itself at the core of sustainable urban development in the Arab region by 2030. Among its prerogatives is to ensure coordination and cooperation with governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations specialised in this field, streamlining the exchange of heritage data and contributing to the formulation of policies preserving the memory of Arab cities. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse Mrs Georgina Aberese-Ako, Acting Upper East Regional Director, Department of Children, has advised parents and major stakeholders to create an equal and conducive environment for children, particularly those with special needs to develop and thrive. She observed that often, parents with disabled children or children with special needs tend to confine them away from the public and deny them access to opportunities like all other children. Such a practice, she underscored, was unacceptable and an infringement on the rights of those children and denying them the opportunity to unearth their immense potential. 'Mostly, we hide children with special needs in rooms thinking they are spirit children, and they should not be treated like the other children but no matter the condition, every child should be treated like human beings and those children have rights,' he said. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Acting Regional Director encouraged parents, especially those with children with special needs to enrol them in schools and give them the platform to explore the world to develop their potential and contribute significantly to the development of society. 'The education policy says that at age four every child should be in kindergarten one and kindergarten two when the child is five years old, preparing them for formal education. So let every child enjoy his or her rights no matter the condition of that child,' she stressed. Mrs Abereseke-Ako said as part of activities to mark this year's World Children's Day on the theme: 'For Every Child, Every Right,' the Department undertook community sensitisation in the Nabdam District as well as collaborated with the National Commission for Civic Education to educate some school children in Garu on the rights and responsibilities of a child. Mrs Aberese-Ako explained that parents had the responsibility to ensure that they provided for the needs of their children and urged them to prioritise the welfare of their children by investing in their education. She id entified superstitions surrounding children with special needs, harmful cultural practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, and child exploitation among others as major challenges facing the development of children in the region. She, therefore, called on stakeholders including government, non-governmental organisations, traditional authorities, and parents to view child protection as a collective responsibility and work to remove all barriers that would create an equal environment for the empowerment of all children. Source: Ghana News Agency