Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has passed a new law about Syrian children. The aim behind it is to strengthen the role of the state in protecting children. The law protecting children was set hours after the new Syrian government was sworn in before President Assad.
The new Law No. (21) issued by President Bashar al-Assad and published by the official SANA agency included 56 articles spread over 12 chapters, in which he talked about the state’s relationship with Syrian children, and the need to regulate the procedure in which state institutions deal with children.
Child Labor
Child labor is among the law’s chapters. The employment of a child aged below 15 years old, is prohibited. It is also forbidden to assign the child to work overtime, whatever the reasons, and to keep him in the workplace after scheduled appointments. In addition, it is not permissible for a child to work at night, on weekends, and on public holidays — following the relevant laws.
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The law also sets the legal age of marriage at 18 and highlights the child’s rights among his family and his guardians. Article 14 of Chapter II states that “the child has the right to be protected from all forms of violence, particularly physical, emotional, sexual or moral abuse.”
The separation of the right to protection and personal safety ensures that the child is prohibited from being recruited or involved in combat operations or other related acts. This comes alongside the State’s guarantee that the child is protected from trafficking.
Some penalties relate to the sale or promotion of hookah, tobacco, and alcohol by children. According to articles 56 and 57, anyone who uses a child to produce, distribute, promote, or sell hookah, tobacco, or alcohol shall be punished by one to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of 300,000 to 500,000 Syrian pounds -the fine varies with the increase of children. This punishment also affects anyone who sells, provides, or allows these products to be provided to a child.
The guardian or official of the child shall be punished legally if he refuses to send him to school after being warned for 10 days, per the procedures established in the Compulsory Education Act, with a fine of 100-150 thousand Syrian pounds.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
