Iraq’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and Chair of the Childhood Care Authority, Ahmed Al-Asadi, has announced significant progress in child welfare and social protection efforts, Iraqi News Agency reported.
Speaking at the inaugural Scientific Conference for the Defense of Children’s Rights, Al-Asadi outlined key achievements, including Iraq’s removal from the list of countries using children in armed conflicts.
Key initiatives include enrolling 3.6 million children in social protection programs, supporting over 137,000 orphans from widowed families, and benefiting 2.2 million children through student grants to enhance access to education. Healthcare efforts have provided medical support to 11,000 children with diabetes and extended health insurance to 177,000 children in Baghdad.
Additionally, 42 Child Protection Units have been established nationwide to offer psychological and social support, and plans are in place to launch a conditional cash assistance program for children under two years old in Al-Muthanna governorate.
The conference, organized by the Childhood Care Authority in collaboration with Save the Children International, focused on strengthening policies and programs to safeguard children’s rights. Al-Asadi emphasized the need for collaboration among government entities, civil society, and international organizations to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children.
