In collaboration with the Childhhod Council of Khartoum State, the Child Protection Initiative has organised a workshop on the concepts and terminology currently used with reference to street children , in the city of Khartoum, Saturday 4th November, 2006.
The participation to this workshop included about 70 participants from a variety of governemental institutions and NGOs, in addition to organisations of civil society concernd with children’s issues . The workshop was conducted on the margin of the regional workshop organised by the Child Protection Initiative jointly with the M inistry of Architectural Planning , and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Khartoum State, from 5th to 8th November, 2006. The workshop was entitled, “Towards the Development of a More Adequate Urban Environment for Children and Youth “, and it served to engage over 70 architects with the aim to design more suited urban sectors and buildings for children with special needs.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Nejwan Abdul Hamid Shems-Eddine, Secretary of the Childhood Protection Council in Khartoum State . Dr Gamal Mahmoud Hamid, CPI Director, gave a speech in which he highlighted the importance of the subject of the workshop and the active role played by the Arab Urban Development Institute and the Child protection Initiative in taking care of children’s issues . Professor Osmane Hassan Mohammed Nour presented a paper on the terminology and concepts relating to street children in the MENA region . This was followed by the intervention of Dr yasir Awad Al Karim, whose presentation focused on the terminology and concepts relating to street children currently used in Sudan . Another intervention was made by Dr Salih Abdallah Haroun, who presented a paper on the rehabilitation of children with special needs by means of their re-integration in the educational system in Sudan. The workshop included extensive discussions and debates as well as recommendations made by participants, that will be incorporated into a forthcoming CPI document on the terminology relating to street children in Sudan .
The workshop was concluded by a speech made by her Excellency Dr Samia Al Habbani, Minister of Social Affairs in Khartoum State, in which she extolled the role played by the Arab Urban Development Institute in supporting Khartoum State through the medium of a bilateral convention which is currently being implemented . Dr Samia Al Habbani called upon the Child Protection Initiative to undertake a census on street children in Khartoum State. Dr Samia Al Habbani also conveyed her wish for ongoing collaboration between the AUDI / CPI and Khartoum State .