President Michel Aoun met a UN delegation including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Violence against Children, Mrs. Najla Mualla Majid, the Child Protection Officer in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children Ms. Cecilia Enikama, Resident Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Lebanon and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Najat Rushdi, and UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Ms. Boki Mukio.

President of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz, former Minister Salim Jreissati, Director-General of the Presidency Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and Counselor, Ambassador Osama Khashab also attended the meeting.

In the beginning, President Aoun welcomed the UN delegation, wishing it success in its work and the goals it set in its tour that also included Jordan, considering that there is a true old partnership between Lebanon and the United Nations, of which Lebanon was one of the founding members.The President praised the assistance provided by the international organization to Lebanon from 1948 until today, and expressed Lebanon’s appreciation for the support and assistance provided by the United Nations in all its bodies operating in Lebanon, and the great role it plays, especially during major crises that lead to many social problems such as those we are witnessing today and negatively affect family members, especially women and children.

The President congratulated Mrs. Mukio on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of UNICEF, which works closely with the Lebanese on the issues of children, whose International Day the world celebrated last November 20, stressing Lebanon’s keenness to promote and activate everything that can be done to guarantee children’s right to education and a decent life.

The President also pointed to the numerous laws that have been passed in this field, and to many programs aimed at helping poor and orphaned children in facing life and its difficulties, reducing the issue of child marriage and child labour, and encouraging equality between women and men.

Finally, President Aoun indicated that Lebanon’s current hardship, economic, financial and living crises, and the lack of available resources, did not stop its efforts to protect women and children, but rather reduced its capabilities, especially in light of the presence of a huge number of displaced Syrians in a small geographical area, and a large number of Palestinian refugees.

The President asked the United Nations to continue to help Lebanon to achieve its humanitarian goals, and to secure the needs of the Lebanese and non-Lebanese on its territory.

For her part, Mrs. Majid stated that her current tour aims to highlight the importance of the strategies that have been developed and those that are in the process of being implemented in order to prevent violence and child labor, especially in light of the current conditions that the world is experiencing due to the repercussions of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which negatively affected the economic conditions in all countries, and basically affected social life, which has become more harsh on children and women.

In addition, Mrs. Majid stressed the continued support of the United Nations to Lebanon and the children in it, and its interest in Lebanese programs that aim to improve the living conditions of children and women, revelaing that she will discuss with the Minister of Social Affairs all these matters, to find common ground that would allow strengthening, activating and developing these programs.

Mrs. Majid also hoped that Lebanon would continue its endeavors in this context.

MP Traboulsi:

The President met MP Adnan Traboulsi.

After the meeting, MP Traboulsi said, “I discussed with His Excellency, the President, the general situation, especially the economic, financial and living situation. It is no secret that most of the Lebanese people are exhausted under the weight of the declining purchase power of the Lebanese Lira, the rise in prices, the clogged horizon, and the lack of solutions which save Lebanon from the current crisis. The President wants a government which works and achieves real reforms and sincere and honest politicians.”

“I also tackled the importance of strengthening Lebanon’s relations with the Arab brothers and the international community,” Traboulsi added.

Former MP Abou Zeid:

President Aoun received former MP Amal Abou Zeid and addressed with him issues related to Lebanese-Russian relations.

The issue of Syrian refugees and the work for their voluntary return has been also tackled.

Mr. Abou Zeid also briefed the President on the recent visit of the Russian President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and African Countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, to Tehran, and the meetings he held with Iranian officials regarding issues related to the Middle East, the dialogue with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and repercussions on the Lebanese general situation.