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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Minister Shamlaye addresses Rights of the Child committee |22 October 2011

Minister Shamlaye addresses Rights of the Child committee

Seychellois children displaying their skills in a recent activity

Most of these initiatives come from the national plan of action for children 2005-2009 founded on the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The minister was accompanied by social development principal secretary Linda William-Melanie, senior research officer Michelle Marguerite, Ruby Pardiwalla and Jean-Claude Matombé of the National Council for Children.

During the session, the committee considered the second, third and fourth combined reports of Seychelles on its implementation of the provisions of the CRC.

Minister Shamlaye took the opportunity to highlight the progress Seychelles has made with regards to children’s rights for the period covered by the initial state party report submitted in 2001.

He also outlined areas where more work needs to be done to ensure further progress and full compliance with the principles of the convention.

Minister Shamlaye said that while significant progress have been made, much remains to be done to tackle problems such as the trafficking of illegal drugs, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and others, which our society needs to overcome in order to ensure a better environment for children, social cohesion and human development.

He noted that the recently adopted ‘Early Childhood Care & Education Framework’ covers areas of the CRC and can be a model of good practice.

The minister added that “the president’s call for a social renaissance and the ensuing national dialogue and resultant plan of action provide the right opportunity to integrate uncompleted tasks as well as new initiatives concerning children, youth and the family into one comprehensive framework for concerted action by all ministries and stakeholders.

The Seychelles delegation has recognised the need to strengthen capability in research, data collection, analysis, and targeted budgeting for children’s programmes. 

The harmonisation of legislation and the continued sensitisation of the public in order to gain a deeper understanding into the provisions of the CRC were also highlighted as areas for action.

All but two countries are party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Seychelles became a party to the convention in September 1990.

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