Doha – Qatar, 22 May

The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center "AMAN", a center governed by the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, prepares for launching the International Conference on Child Helplines tomorrow morning and over two consecutive days at Grand Hyatt Hotel – Al Sailiya Hall, in conjunction with the International Day of Child Helplines, which is celebrated on 17th May every year, with the participation of more than 30 international and regional organizations and entities to mobilize efforts and advocate on issues related to children.

The Conference seeks at enhancing advocacy, mobilize support, and activate child protection mechanisms by expanding effective local, regional and international partnerships in the field of child helplines.

The Conference will discuss a number of themes such as the approach of “AMAN" in child protection, the experience of the hotline, the challenges of working in the field of child helplines at the international and regional levels, emergency response mechanisms to help children in political crises through international organizations, the role of child helplines in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and a review of the most important international and regional practices and experiences, laws, regulations, policies and other relevant topics.

In this context, Mr. Saad Marafie, Acting Director of Support Services Department at AMAN Center and Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Conference on Child Helplines, expressed the diligent preparations of the Center's teams and committees in organizing this specialized international conference in the field of child helplines, as it will be an added value to child-related issues.

From an organizational point of view, he added, several committees have been formed in order to make this event a success. The Organizing Committee has developed a complete strategy for the organization and direct supervision of the works of the various committees, and for the administrative audit of all transactions of the committees.

In addition, Mrs. Hanan Al Ali, Director of the Communication and Media Office at AMAN Center and Chairman of the Media Committee at the Organizing Committee, confirmed that AMAN is keen to organize the International Conference on Child Helplines, which discusses issues related to child helplines and the mechanisms used in it through cooperation and partnership with the International Organization for Child Helplines in order to create a safe environment for children and to achieve AMAN's vision and mission in providing protection and rehabilitation to reduce violence.

Mrs. Al Ali emphasized the Center's keenness to organize this international event, which is a part of the celebration of international and local days for issues related to the target groups, including women, children and victims of family breakdown, with the aim of strengthening the principle of community and international partnership to raise awareness of issues of these groups.

Furthermore, Mr. Nasser Al Marzouqi, Head of the Administrative Services Department and Chairman of the Ceremonies and Protocol Committee at the Organizing Committee, said that the Center has provided all logistics in order to facilitate the arrival of delegations to Doha. It is expected that app. two hundred international, regional, Arab and Gulf organizations will participate in the Conference, in addition to the invitees from inside Qatar.

Mr. Al Marzouqi added that all committees continue to complete the organization of the Conference in order to bring out this event in the best way. He expressed his happiness at the Center's success in reaching this diversity of international and regional organizations, which will undoubtedly support child help services, rehabilitation and protection inside and outside Qatar.

About the Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center (AMAN):

The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center "AMAN" is a private institution of public benefit. In 2002, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned (may God protect her) established the Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center for the purpose of contributing to strengthening the protection and social rehabilitation system for the target groups under the name of the Qatar Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children. In 2013, its name was changed to be the “Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center "AMAN".

The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center "AMAN" is concerned with providing services to the target groups of victims of violence and family breakdown, including children, women and vulnerable people, according to the specific criteria for each group in the fields of social protection, awareness and education. For further legalization, the Center joined Qatar Social Work Foundation in 2013. The Center inspires the values of Qatar Social Work Foundation, which are privacy, professionalism, responsibility and partnership.

About Child Helplines International:

Child Helplines International is a non-profit organization founded in 2003, having its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It has the supervisory capacity in the United Nations, and includes 181 members representing 147 countries, and all of them work under the slogan (Every Child has a Voice).​