Mr. Hughes Mingerley, Head of the Middle East and Neighbourhood Affairs Department at the European Union, said: “What the Seyaj Organization is doing to alleviate the suffering of children is commendable, and we are very proud to assist you. Our colleagues at the EU Delegation will continue to support these noble efforts.”
This came during a special visit by a high-level European delegation to the Seyaj Organization. During a meeting with the organization’s leadership, the EU Ambassador to Yemen, Mr. Michael Cervone, affirmed the European Union’s pride in its partnership with Seyaj, given its positive role in protecting children. He considered Seyaj’s work a model for what civil society should be doing. Serfonie emphasized the European Union’s commitment to strengthening the participation of Yemeni civil society in development during the next phase.
For his part, Mr. Philippe from the EU Delegation to Yemen stated: “Although Siyaj is the only organization visited by the EU delegation for this program, we are very interested in developing partnerships with civil society so that it can work directly in implementing various development programs.” Ahmed Al-Qurashi, head of the Siyaj organization, said: “The European Union has been the largest supporter of our projects in the past and is the sole supporter of our project on ‘Rehabilitating Victims of Landmines and Armed Conflict.’ We are keen to continue and develop our partnership in development and direct services for victims and their families, and we are eager to expand it to include the demobilization of child soldiers and those injured in armed conflicts.” He explained that Siyaj aims to make its experience at its center for rehabilitating child victims of armed conflict in Yemen a model for the region.
The European delegation was briefed on the facilities built by Seyaj as part of its project to assist landmine victims, with support from the European Union. They also learned about the various services Seyaj provides to child victims of violence, including monitoring and documenting violations, providing legal aid, economic, psychological, and social rehabilitation, and media and community advocacy. The meeting was attended by Mr. Dominique Porter, Principal Envoy for External Action, Ms. Silkie, and Mr. Philippe from the European Union, and from Seyaj, by the organization’s director, Fadl Al-Qudsi, project manager Ashwaq Al-Jubi, and several children active in the organization.
Sana’a, January 26, 2012
