Establishment
Saudi National Commission for Childhood was formed in 1979, the International Year of the Child. It was formed as a living proof of Saudi Arabia's considerable concern for children to enhance and develop child-related activities.

General Objective
The general objective of Saudi National Commission for Childhood is to formulate a general policy on child-related needs and activities in Saudi Arabia and coordinate the efforts of the various agencies concerned with children's affairs.

Tasks and Competencies
Saudi National Commission for Childhood handles all child-related affairs. Some of the functions are stated below:

•  To organize relationships between government agencies, national associations and institutions concerned with childhood in the Kingdom in order to achieve integration and avoid duplication.

•  To formulate a national strategy on childhood to help the competent authorities in the Kingdom to promote various aspects of child welfare.

•  To propose child-related programs and projects for implementation by government and private agencies.

•  To establish a database on all child-related affairs in the Kingdom, update its data and exchange such data with all the agencies concerned.

•  To prepare for the meetings of the Supreme Council for Childhood and the Planning & Follow up Committee.

•   To monitor the implementation of the recommendations and resolutions of the Supreme Council and the Planning & Follow up Committee.

•  To monitor activities of regional and international bodies and institutions concerned with childhood.

•  To encourage researches, studies and all forms of children's culture.

•  To prepare periodic reports on the activities of the Saudi National Commission for Childhood.

Formation
The Saudi National Commission for Childhood is composed of:

1. The Supreme Council for Childhood
   This head of this council is the Minister of Education. Deputy Ministers from the following government organizations in the Kingdom are members in this council:

•  Ministry of Interior
•  Ministry of Foreign Affairs
•  Ministry of Education
•  Ministry of Culture and Information
•  Ministry of Health
•  Ministry of Economy and Planning
•  Ministry of Labor
•  Ministry of Social Affairs
•  Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs
•  General Presidency of Youth Welfare

        There are a number of private associations and institutions in addition to the members stated.

2. The Planning and Follow up Committee
   The head of this committee is the Deputy Ministry of Education for Cultural Affairs. Several General Directors from all the agencies that are concerned with childhood in the Kingdom are also members of this committee.
   
3.  The General Secretariat
   The General Secretariat is located in the Ministry of Education and is composed mainly of specialists in child-related fields. It has been established to plan and monitor the activities of the agencies concerned with childhood and to prepare reports and studies for submission to the Supreme Council and the Planning and Follow up Committee. It also includes a number of administrators to handle the Secretariat's administrative affairs.

Future Plans

• Developing the activities of the Saudi National Commission for Childhood through regular meetings of the Supreme Council and Planning and Follow up Committee in order to consider child-related issues, make appropriate recommendations and enhance the coordination and monitoring of the various efforts of the agencies concerned with children.
•  Formulating a national strategy for childhood to help the agencies concerned with children to plan for their programs and activities which promote various aspects of care rendered to children.
• Compiling a standardized guide that comprises all the regulations, measures and instructions relevant to childhood in the Kingdom.
• Establishing a national data center for childhood it the Kingdom with an effective mechanism to update the information and ways to benefit wherefrom.
• Laying down the criteria reflecting the extent to which children receive the care that they need in a manner consistent with their health, social and cultural status.
• Encouraging writer, authors, and scientists to make studies and write about child-related fields in order to respond to children's needs in a manner consistent with their stages of development.
• Promoting public awareness of the rights of the child among families and agencies concerned with children.