Qatar hosts the regional consultation for child helplines in MENA

The 4th Regional Consultation for Child Helplines in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will be held in Doha on Monday. The event is organized by Qatar Foundation for Child and Woman Protection under the patronage of HE Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Sheikha Hessa bin Hamad Al Thani.  The three-day conference will gather representatives from sixteen countries: Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Algeria, Qatar, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Morocco and Djibouti.  The conference aims to exchange experiences, developments and plans of action, enhance the cooperation between the helplines in region, and set up a regional action plan.  Dr. Ilham Badr al-Sada, the Director of the Media and Public Relations Department at Qatar Foundation for Child and Woman Protection, highlighted that the Foundation launched last year the helpline (919) which offers free 24-hours service for children and young people who are under the age of eighteen years. The helpline works within a modern communication center and keep pace with evolving standards of quality in international communications.  Since it was established last June till the day, the helpline received 941 calls from children or their caregivers. It helps to protect children from all types of risks they may face through a dedicated team of psychologists and social workers, Dr. al-Sada noted.  The 919 helpline has received the full membership of the child helpline international, which is an international network made up of children helplines around the world, working to protect the rights of children. The number of countries participating in this organization is more than 150 countries. The experiences of some of its members are up to more than 50 years in the field of helplines and assisting children, she added.