International Program Director of Save the Children Japan paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, December 13, 2023 – The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Mongolia, Mr. S. Zulphar, warmly welcomed Mrs. Maiko Fujii, Director of International Programs at Save the Children Japan, during her official working visit to Mongolia from December 11-15, 2023. The meeting was attended by Mrs. N. Bayarmaa, Head of the Family Policy Implementation and Coordination Department of the MLSP, Mr. L. Bayan-Altai, Country Manager of Save the Children in Mongolia, Mrs. E. Tsolmon, the Child Protection and Child Rights Governance Programs Manager and Mr. Yo. Nyamdavaa, Manager for “Entrepreneurship-focused Socio-emotional skills for the most vulnerable youth in rural Mongolia” project of Save the Children in Mongolia and other officials.

At the onset of the meeting, Deputy Minister Mr. S. Zulphar extended gratitude to Mrs. Maiko Fujii for paying a courtesy visit to the Ministry and conveyed best wishes for her visit to Mongolia. Mrs. Fujii thanked the Deputy Minister for the warm reception and acknowledged the vital support provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for the implementation of Save the Children programs and projects in Mongolia.

Mr. S. Zulphar expressed sincere appreciation for the substantial contribution of Save the Children towards the advancement of children’s rights and the fortification of the child protection system in Mongolia over the past three decades. Highlighting the impact of Save the Children’s initiatives, he noted the organization’s role in generating knowledge, developing effective methodologies, and making significant investments to achieve tangible results in the areas that require international know-how and methodological support.

He emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Mongolia and Save the Children, particularly in two key child protection projects. The first project – “Establishing Child Protection Mechanism in School Settings in Mongolia”  aims to create cooperative models between schools, parents, and joint teams to prevent violence against children and provide early identification of risks. The other project – “Protecting Girls from Violence and Exploitation” introduces to the child protection service providers the trauma-informed and victim-centered services for child victims and survivors.

Commending the Save the Children Japan, Mongolia Office team for their effective implementation of these projects, Deputy Minister S. Zulphar underscored their crucial role in strengthening the child protection system in Mongolia.

In his address, Deputy Minister S. Zulphar informed Mrs. Fujii about the upcoming amendments to the Child Protection Law in Mongolia, emphasizing the significant responsibility associated with this reform. He expressed confidence that Save the Children’s extensive experience in information dissemination, training, advocacy, and personnel development in the field of child protection would be instrumental during this transitional period.

Acknowledging the Government of Mongolia’s increased budget allocation for child protection, Mrs. Maiko Fujii stressed the importance of prudent planning for human resources and budgetary considerations. Deputy Minister S. Zulphar concluded the meeting by expressing optimism about the future collaborations and the positive impact they will have on advancing child protection initiatives in Mongolia.