Govt committed to children’s rights

Sunday Mail Reporters

Government is committed to promoting the respect, realisation and promotion of children’s rights, chief director in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Major-General Evaristo Dzihwema (Retired) has said.

He said this on the 30th anniversary commemorations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) held in the capital yesterday organised by the ministry in conjunction with UNICEF Zimbabwe.

The celebrations, which ran under the theme “My Right My Responsibility”, drew participants from the country’s 10 provinces.

“This commemoration is intended to add impetus to the implementation of the national laws, polices and action plans that address issues on children’s rights such as education, prevention and early detection of child abuse, and reporting of abuse offences,” said Maj-Gen Dzihwema (Rtd)

“Government, in partnership with UNICEF Zimbabwe, has always taken measures towards attaining the respect, realisation and promotion of the rights of the children.

“This anniversary, therefore, presents the opportunity to recommit and rededicate ourselves to this noble cause as we strive to achieve targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals.”

UNICEF representative Ms Laylee Moshiri applauded Government for its commitment to promoting children’s rights.

“I would also like to commend the Government for its commitment to the rights of children and since 1990, when Zimbabwe ratified the CRC, the Government has put in place measures to ensure that the rights of children are promoted and protected,” she said.

“As you all know, the Zimbabwe Constitution has a special Children’s Bill of Rights that mandates that the State must adopt policies and measures to ensure that in matters relating to children, the best interests of the children concerned are paramount.”