The Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament will sit on Friday to debate various issues ranging from Covid-19 to poverty. Image: Getty Images.
Accountability to top agenda when Mandela Children’s Parliament sits
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament will sit on Friday after members elect the speaker and its executive.
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament will sit on Friday to debate various issues ranging from Covid-19 to poverty. Image: Getty Images.
The 10th Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament (NMCP) will sit in Johannesburg on Friday 8 October.
On Thursday, the children from across the country will elect the speaker of the Children’s Parliament and its executive before they sit and debate on various topics which will include the COVID-19 pandemic, teenage pregnancy, climate change, and poverty.
MEMBERS DRAWN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
“Over the past 10 years, the hosting of the NMCP rotated across all provinces to create an opportunity for the children of South Africa to participate equally,” said Zamajozi Sithole, the Project Officer for the NMCF Youth Leadership Programme.
The theme for the upcoming children’s Parliament is: “Accountability to enhance the voices and rights of children during COVID-19 and beyond.”
The theme acknowledges that the state is responsible to protect, respect and promote the rights of children and need to account and report to children on progress made in this regard
The ultimate goal for the Children’s Parliament is to create a channel for children to influence government policies and programmes to ensure that their rights are realised.
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CHILDREN’S PARLIAMENT PARTNERS WITH SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Last year the Children’s Parliament could not sit due to Covid-19 and this year’s proceedings are in line with the Social Development Month campaign which seeks to reach out to poor and vulnerable South Africans.
The Children’s Parliament is a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Department of Social Development and was inaugurated in 2011 with the aim to provide a platform for Children in South Africa to reflect on issues of leadership and civic participation.
The NMCP programme was created to celebrate the values, principles and commitment of Nelson Mandela to the children of South Africa by giving children meaningful opportunities to participate, direct and influence decisions made on their behalf or in their best interest.
