His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the GCC member states, guided by the wise directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC, attach the utmost importance to the Gulf child as a fundamental cornerstone in the construction of societies and the architecture of the future.
These remarks were delivered during His Excellency’s speech today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, on the occasion of Gulf Children’s Day, which is celebrated annually on the fifteenth of January.
His Excellency stated that the Council states are deeply committed to family affairs across all demographics, noting that Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC leaders have previously directed studies to mitigate the negative impacts of certain media outlets on the youth.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the Advisory Authority of the Supreme Council in the Sultanate of Oman was tasked with evaluating and developing child culture programmes, while the GCC Supreme Council approved the "Muscat Document on Rules for the Protection of Children during the Investigation Phase" in 2023.
"The Gulf Children’s Day serves as a vital platform to highlight and raise awareness of children's rights in various fields, specifically regarding health and education. To support this objective, the GCC Statistical Centre has launched specialised educational booklets for children in the field of statistics. These publications present Gulf-wide data and statistics in a simplified and objective manner tailored to the target age group, aiming to instill a spirit of belonging and a sense of Gulf unity within the younger generation," His Excellency stated.
His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi further addressed the global challenges facing families amidst increasing digital and technological openness, which directly impacts social stability.
"Consequently, the GCC states have intensified their efforts to educate children, youth, and families on the proper use of technology while consolidating the concepts of citizenship and Gulf identity. This has been achieved through the launch of a joint digital initiative titled 'Digital Safety for the Gulf Child,' which was officially adopted by the GCC Ministers of Information during their 27th meeting. This initiative aims to guide children between the ages of 5 and 18 on how to safely navigate content on websites and social media platforms, raising awareness regarding the risks of digital misuse and providing training on safe internet practices and appropriate responses to potential abuse or danger," His Excellency explained.
His Excellency also emphasised the GCC's dedicated focus on child education, noting that member states ensure the provision of essential services in schools free of charge.
"These services include high-speed internet access, textbooks, educational computers, and infrastructure specifically adapted for students with disabilities, alongside basic health facilities," His Excellency added.
His Excellency the GCC Secretary General concluded by highlighting that the implementation rate of these essential educational services has reached 100% across all schools in all GCC member states.