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Herald Reporter
ELEVEN members of the African committee of experts on the rights and welfare of the children are gathered in Harare for a four-day induction, which is expected to equip them with best practices in upholding the rights and welfare of children.Addressing the members and other stakeholders in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Welfare Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji said the induction marks the beginning of an important task for the experts.
“As our core expert group, it is prudent that you be adequately armed with pertinent documents, issues, processes, mechanisms, initiatives, successes, best practice and indeed challenges around the responsibility for the rights and welfare of the African child,” Dr Gwinji said.
He said while the region was committed to upholding the rights and welfare of the child, the fact that Africa has diverse social, cultural and religious backgrounds should not be ignored for the full realisation of children’s rights.
Dr Gwinji also revealed that the country’s reports on rights and welfare of children for this year has since been completed and is awaiting Cabinet approval.
He said the report is expected to be approved soon and submitted to the African Union before the September 30 2013 deadline.
“We all believe strongly that children are the most vulnerable members of our society who nonetheless carry the hopes and aspirations of our entire continent for a better and more just future,” he said.
Save the Children country director Mr Brian Hunter said although remarkable progress has been made so far in relation to upholding the rights and welfare of children in Zimbabwe, a lot more challenges in the areas of resource allocation and implementation of available legislation lags behind.
Online Reporter