SOS Children's Villages Tunisia receives award on historic day

On 10 December, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali presided over a ceremony celebrating the 58th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During the ceremony, Ben Ali honoured SOS Children's Villages of Tunisia by presenting it with the 2006 Prize of the President of the Republic for Human Rights and World Solidarity. SOS Children's Villages Tunisia was honoured in recognition of its efforts on behalf of world peace and human rights, support for children without parental care and its commitment to all aspects of child development.

"My congratulations go to Mr. Chedli Bacha, president of the Tunisian SOS Children's Villages association, in consideration for his commitment to education, social development, medical care and psycho-social support to children," declared President Ben Ali. "This organisation continues to help those deprived of family support and prepares them for productive lives in the community."

On 10 December, 1948, United Nations General Assembly adopted this declaration, which proclaims that every individual has the rights of freedom of thought, conscience and expression, as well as the rights to life, liberty and security of person. The declaration also promotes the rights of employment, cultural participation and freedom from cruel or inhumane treatment or punishment.

The first two Tunisian SOS Children's Villages, in Siliana and Gammarth, opened in 1983. Today, there are three SOS Children's Villages in Tunisia, two SOS Youth Facilities, three SOS Kindergartens and three SOS Social Centres. Since early 2006, these social centres have supported children and families through family strengthening programmes, which offer both material support and educational/job skills counselling to poor families and single mothers.