Politicians aim to help children

Politicians aim to help children

SINGAPORE (AP): Southeast Asian politicians plan to meet this
week in Singapore to share ideas about how to protect the
region's children from poverty and hunger and to help them become
literate.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send
ministers in charge of social welfare to Singapore for the
meeting from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3. ASEAN said in a statement on
Monday that Singapore President S.R. Nathan would open the
meeting on Wednesday.

The gathering will address social challenges facing Southeast
Asia "and focus on enhancing social development, particularly
with regard to children, family and population issues", the
statement said.

The last meeting of social welfare ministers was in December
1993 in Manila. During that meeting, members resolved to share
ideas about the "survival, protection and development" of
children in Southeast Asia.