Children call for strengthening of their forums at local levels

At the opening of the Seventh Children Summit that took place on 04/01/2012 at the Parliamentary building in Kigali City, Children called upon local leaders to strengthen their forums at local levels.

“We are calling upon local leaders especially district mayors to put more emphasis in strengthening children forums at local leaders to give it more meaning. We, as children believe that little is being done at these levels,” said the chairperson of the children Eric Ngabonzima whose address was being interpreted due to his speaking and hearing impairment.

Ngabonzima called upon district leaders to put programmes of strengthening these forums into their performance contracts as a measure.

The National Children’s Summit has been held annually since2004. The aim of the Summit is to involve Rwandan children in dialogue and decision making; to give children an opportunity to be heard on the issues that affect their lives.

The theme of the 7th National Children’s Summit is ‘Children and Equity; our contribution to EDPRS’. This was chosen to ensure that the children are engaged in the national dialogue on Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy so that their needs are advocated for and addressed in the planned strategies; taking their views into consideration.

The Summit includes child delegates representing the children from each sector and district forums; representatives of vulnerable children – children with disabilities, children from refugee camps, institutional care, street children and orphans. In attendance also are government officials, UNICEF and other partner organizations involved in child protection.