Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) held an event to celebrate its partnership with Corporate Ambassadors at Kurumba Maldives, today to recognise their support the rights of the child in the Maldives. At the event, Awards of Appreciation were presented to ARC’s Corporate Ambassadors of 2015, as follows:
- Kurumba Maldives (as Champion of Children’s Rights)
- Event Maldives (as Patron of Children’s Rights)
- Best Buy Maldives (as Patron of Children’s Rights)
- Dhiraagu (as Advocate of Children’s Rights)
- MediaNet Pvt Ltd (as Advocate of Children’s Rights)
- Hon. Moomina Haleem (as Advocate of Children’s Rights)
- Ink Investments (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
- M7 Print Pvt Ltd (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
- Lintel Investments (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
- Happy Market (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
- Mr Harith Harun (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
- Fondation d’Entreprise Club Mediterranee (as Supporter of Children’s Rights)
During the event, ARC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with new Corporate Ambassadors for the year 2016. These include: Public Service Media and Event Maldives, as Champions of Children’s Rights; Seagull Group Pvt Ltd and Blak Pvt Ltd, as Advocates of Children’s Rights; and M7 Print Pvt Ltd and Ahmed Nishan (Batti) and Ali Masrah, as Supporters of Children’s Rights. Earlier this year, an MOU was signed with Kanbalifaru Development Pvt Ltd, in the category of Champion of Children’s Rights in the Maldives.
In addition to Corporate Ambassadors, tokens of appreciation were also awarded to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Maldives and the British High Commission, as well as Haveeru Media Group and the Football Association of Maldives, in recognition of their generous support for ARC that has allowed the consolidation and expansion of this organisation’s work during the year 2015.
ARC also awarded certificates of appreciation to other donors and sponsors, including City Investments Pvt Ltd, Co-Load Maldives Pvt Ltd, Damas Company Pvt Ltd, Seagull Group Pvt Ltd, Muni Enterprises Pvt Ltd, New Look Saloon and individual donors who supported ARC in the past year.
Launched in 2013, the Corporate Ambassadorship Programme has been an initiative by ARC, inviting businesses and individuals to work together to improve the quality of life of children in the Maldives and to strengthen the child protection system, through donations and services.
Speaking at the event, ARC’s Executive Director Zenysha Zaki called on concerned authorities to strengthen the child protection system in the country and to promptly pass the relevant legislations through the Majlis, including the newly drafted Child Protection Bill and the Juvenile Justice Bill. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the laws and regulations reflect the Maldives’ commitments under its international obligations and are sufficiently equipped to deal with the emerging issues facing children.
Zenysha also stressed the need to address the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, such as children in shelters, children with disabilities, child victims of abuse, neglect and maltreatment, and also juvenile offenders. She further called on concerned authorities to speedily investigate all reports of child abuse and provide redress to all victims, while at the same time ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted under the law. Moreover, Zenysha noted that the task of promoting and protecting the rights of the child requires a concerted effort on the part of all in society, from the individual and grassroots level to the island and national level.
In this regard, ARC wishes to express sincere appreciation to all its Corporate Ambassadors and other donors and sponsors who have shown a genuine interest and commitment to improve the well-being of children in the Maldives, and to Kurumba Maldives for their gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the event.