Message by the chairperson of the National Council for Children and the National Commission for Child Protection, Ambassador Dr Erna Athanasius on the occasion of the Universal Children’s Day on November 20, 2019 |20 November 2019
Dr Athanasius
‘It is time to take stock on the various measures we have taken to raise the status of child rights’
“As the world today celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Convention for Rights of the Child (CRC), it is a time for Seychelles to reflect on all that has been done and achieved over these past 30 years. It is time to take stock on the various measures we have taken and are taking, to assess the distance we have travelled to raise the status of child rights and take measures to build awareness, understanding and enforcing the realisation of children’s rights in the country and how much further we still need to go to fulfill our obligations under the Convention including the three Optional Protocols.
“In fact, the global call this year is to encourage member states to refresh their commitments to implement the CRC, including at the national level, thus providing an opportunity to accelerate action on both the child rights agenda and Agenda 2030 within sustainable development efforts under the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“The Convention has inspired changes in all parts of the world, including:
- Incorporating child rights principles into legislation,
- Establishing interdepartmental and multidisciplinary bodies to address child rights,
- Developing national agendas for children,
- Promoting ombudspersons for children or commissioners for children's rights,
- Restructuring of budgetary allocations for the realisation of children’s rights,
- Interventions targeting child survival and development,
- Addressing discrimination and other barriers to the realisation of child rights including socio-economic disparities among children,
- Creating opportunities for children to express their views and be heard,
- Expanding partnerships for children,
- Assessing the impact of measures on children.
“The Seychelles government has worked hard to champion children’s rights to education, a home, free and accessible healthcare, non-discrimination, and identity, protection from violence, exploitation, harmful work, sexual abuse and from trafficking, among many other rights under the Convention.
“Legislation and national agendas have been developed with children and young people at the forefront, interventions targeting child survival and development are common place in our country with one of the highest vaccination rates in the region and the world, infant and child mortality rates are markedly reduced, school enrollment has increased, with compulsory free primary and secondary education, opportunities for self-expression in the arts and music are ubiquitous these days, children can express their views freely in school and in organised fora like Konekte.zen, the National Youth Assembly, and even within the National Assembly.
“In line with the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Adoption of the CRC, which has been officially ratified, Seychelles has today ensured that as a member state it is taking action and strengthening efforts for the advancement of the rights of the child and taking serious steps to eventually ban corporal punishment of children in the home.
“However, we cannot rest on our laurels, as children have always been seen as vulnerable beings and could be victims of abuse of their rights as individuals at any time. It is for all of us leaders, teachers, parents, siblings, communities and nation at large to ensure our child’s rights are respected and where every child is brought up to uphold four key values of respect, integrity, courage, and humility.
“Let us stand, alongside our children, for their human rights!”