Prioritise child rights, Parliament urged

Charmaine Brown and Natasha Kokai
Parliament must prioritise the crafting of laws relating to children to ensure their rights are upheld.
Speaking during the Child Rights Coalition Conference in Harare on Wednesday, Plan International country director Dr Angela Muriith said there was need to continue advocating key policy issues that promote children’s rights.

The conference was running under the sub-theme: ‘Enhancing the recognition of Kinship Care as an alternative form of care in Zimbabwe’.

“There is need to continue advocating legal and policy reforms around alignment of various laws to the 2013 constitution.
‘‘We have also witnesses some positive progress in the form of the Marriage Bill consultations as well as the Child Justice Bill discussions,” she said.

Dr Muriith said as Plan International they are committed to working vigorously to protect and uphold the rights of children so that they can fulfil their full potential in the country.

Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of the Children (ZNCWC) programs officer Mr Samuel Mandiwana said there is need to pass the Education Bill into an Act because it is the foundation for child rights main-streaming.

“Child rights education is the foundation for powerful child rights main-streaming into current policy and programming and for future generations. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is the custodian of the child so it is important that they adopt the child rights policy,” he said.

Mr Mandiwana also said the social safety nets remain under-funded and that the government should strive for child friendly national budget.

The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 was a milestone achievement in the struggle for children’s rights.

This year marks the 30th Child Rights Coalition years of existence and standards for the protection and advancement of children’s rights by all member states and equally holds member states accountable for violations of the various child rights.