In the framework of its implementation of the convention signed by the AUDI / CPI and Khartoum State on 16th March, 2006, the first meeting was held by the supreme Executive Committee of the CPI in Khartoum. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and held in the Meeting Hall . It was presided by Her Excellency Dr Samia Habbani, Minister of Social Affairs. Among th participants in this meeting the city Governor of Oum Badda and the City Governor of Jebel Al-Aoulia’a, in addition to representatives of the supreme Executive Committee of the CPI, representatives of several Ministries, as well as representatives of local administrative institutions and local and international organisations. Her Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs inaugurated the meeting by welcoming the participants. Dr. Gamal Hamid then gave a presentation on the Child protection Initiative, highlighting the components and objectives of the convention, as well as the programmes to be implemented within the framework of the convention. Dr. Nejwan Shems-Eddine, Secretary General of the Child protection Council in Khartoum State, made a speech on the document of the Child Protection Initiative in Khartoum State, highlighting a set of programmes and projects whose implementation is expected to be undertaken in the framework of the convention, in collaboration with several organisations and institutions.
Dr. Nejwan Shems-Eddine’s speech stimulated discussions amongst the committee members, all of whom conveyed their satisfaction with regard to the convention and the document of the Child Protection Initiative, and their willingnness to participate in their implementation . Her Excellency Minister Samia Habbani concluded the meeting by conveying the readiness of the Ministry of Social Affairs to implement both the Initiative and the convention, and conveyed her gratitude to the participants for their readiness to participate in their implementation, for the benefit of the children of Khartoum State.
Dr. Gamal Hamid also held a meeting on Sunday 30th July, 2006, with Her Excellency Minister Samia Habbani and Dr. Nejwan Shems-Eddine with the aim to discuss the required concrete procedures for the implementation of the Initiative. It was decided that the Ministry revises the document of the Initiative by incorporating the plan proposed by Khartoum State for addressing the twin phenomena of begging and homelessness, given the remarkable overlapping between the Initiative and the elements outlined by the convention . It was suggested in the meeting that such revision of the document of the Initiative could be entrusted the Council For Childhood Protection , in addition to related administrations. It was also decided that the Ministry and its apparatuses are expected to limit the implementation of children related programmes and projects to the Municipalities of Oum Badda and Jebel Al-Aoulia’a in the first instance. The Ministry is also expected to prepare a proposal outlining the capacity building of the monitors who will be in charge of supervising the implementation of the Initiative, especially local workshops, the police, and teachers.
The meeting also discussed the proposal of holding a regional meeting on the subject of the urban environment required for children with special needs, and which meets the objectives of the convention . This is already welcomed by the Ministry of Urban Planning at Khartoum State, which is currently preparing a plan on the development and expansion of Greater Khartoum . It was decided that this workshop will be held in the first week of November, 2006, with the participation of experts from Canada, Holland, and the Kingdom of saudi Arabia.