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Universal Children’s Day - ‘Let’s harmonise our efforts to ensure better protection for children’ |20 November 2017

“The Seychelles Children’s Foundation is calling on parents, religious and political leaders and on all citizens to harmonise our efforts and work collectively to ensure better protection for all our children.”

The appeal comes in a message from Jules Hoareau, chief executive of the Seychelles Children’s Foundation, on the occasion of the Universal Children’s Day being celebrated today.

Mr Hoareau’s message reads:

“The Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 and it is celebrated every year on the November 20. In 1959 the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child followed by the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. 

“Seychelles being a party to this convention pays a lot of attention to the protection and wellbeing of children.

“The Seychelles Children’s Foundation would like to take this opportunity to call on parents, religious and political leaders and on all citizens to harmonise our efforts and work collectively to ensure better protection for all our children.

“There is a misapprehension in our country on the issue of children’s rights. Let us be clear that children’s rights are similar to the basic human rights which are applicable to everyone. Every child must be protected and safeguarded.  Similarly to human rights, children’s rights also go with certain level of responsibilities depending on the age and mental capacity of the child. It is not because of the children’s rights that we are having children with anti social behaviour but rather because of a decline in our moral and societal values. At this juncture I would like to condemn all acts of abuse, neglect and other violations on our children. We have many challenges relating to the wellbeing and protection of our children in our country namely children who are living on the street, increase in number of delinquent children, neglect and abuse.  There is greater need for more responsive services and facilities to address these challenges.

“On this day, I’m appealing to the President and the government to make provision for a juvenile centre. We urgently need this facility if we really want to help this group of children who are at risk. We do not want another case of Dylan Rose or Davis Azemia or like  other children who have lost their lives because of the lack of appropriate services and facilities.

“As we celebrate the Universal Children’s Day, let us remember all the children in the world suffering and dying because of natural calamities, war and other forms of violation and abuse. Let us continue to fight for the protection and wellbeing of all children especially the vulnerable ones.”

 

 

 

 

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