UNICEF AND PARTNERS COMMEMORATE 20
YEARS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WITH SPECIAL
CHILDREN’S SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
KAMPALA, 20 NOVEMBER, 2009 – The United Na-
tions Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joined the Govern-
ment of Uganda and representatives of Civil Society to
commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the United Na-
tions Convention on the Rights of the Child with a
Children’s Special Parliamentary Session at the
Uganda Parliament Buildings. The session provided a
rare opportunity for Ugandan children to engage Mem-
bers of Parliament in an in-depth discussion of issues
affecting them in their various districts of abode.
The First Lady and Member of for Ruhama County,
Honourable Janet Kataaha Museveni, was Chief Guest
at the event, during which she also launched the spe-
cial commemorative edition of UNICEF’s The State of
the World’s Children (SOWC) report. Other attendees
included the Minister of State for Youth and Children
Affairs, Honourable Jessica Alupo Epel, members of
the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC),
and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
Two children – 16 year-old Umar Buyondo and 15 year
-old Juliet Alitubeera – presided over the children’s
parliamentary session as “Honorary Junior Speaker”
and “Honorary Deputy Speaker” respectively. The two
were elected in a pre-parliamentary session attended
by 80 fellow child delegates who represented all the
children from Uganda’s 80 districts. During the pre-
parliamentary session, the child delegates raised a
series of issues that were compiled into a memoran-
dum, which their “Speaker” and “Deputy Speaker” later
presented in a memorandum. FIRST LADY
“We are here – many districts are (represented by
children) here from the north, east, west and south –
we definitely all have issues”, said “Honorary Junior
Speaker” Buyondo in his opening remarks to Members
of Parliament.
“Many non-governmental organisations have done a
lot for children: UNICEF, World Vision, and many
others have set the pace for children, and we thank
them very much”, Buyondo said.
Between them, the child delegates subsequently
raised issues of child survival and development, includ- expanded programme for immunisation, as well as
ing the need for adequate feeding and proper nutrition, child-specific policies like the National Orphans and
education and healthcare; as well as child protection
issues including violence against children, children
affected by armed conflict, verbal and sexual abuse,
ritual murders (child sacrifice) and child neglect.
“Honorary Junior Speaker” Buyondo applauded the
government for its contributions to the wellbeing of
children, but added that more needed to be done to
resolve those areas that remained lacking. The chil-
dren’s representative also commended child rights
organisations for their visible efforts to help improve mitment to ensure that every child is kept alive, safe
the situation of children in Uganda.
unite for
children
“Many non-governmental organisations have done a lot for
children: UNICEF, World Vision, and many others have set
the pace for children, and we thank them very much”,
Buyondo said.
First Lady Honourable Janet Museveni commended the
children for ably articulating their views, and challenged
her fellow Members of Parliament to create mechanisms
for getting children’s feedback from their respective con-
stituencies.
“These children clearly know their issues, so it is impor-
tant to listen to them and to take them seriously”, the First
Lady said, citing the example of a 9-year-old child dele-
gate who had risen on a point of clarification, seeking to
find out if there were specific laws addressing situations 14 YEAR-OLD NAMPEERA CONTRIBUTES DURING THE CHILDREN’S
SPECIAL SESSION WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO COM-
involving parents who neglected their children. TH
MEMORATE THE 20 ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONVENTION ON THE
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. 80 CHILD DELEGATES FROM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY ATTENDED THE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S PARLIAMENT
TO PRESENT ISSUES AFECTING THEM TO MEMBERS OF PARLIA-
MENT. PHOTO: UNICEF/UGANDA 2009/SEKANDI
He cited Uganda’s success in bringing an end to “the
scourge of brutalization of children and women and the
night commuters”, adding that in dealing with abducted
children, “he Ugandan Army and Police had “shown to the
world that the defence forces and Police could be respon-
sible partners in promotion and protection of child rights”.
Dr. Sapra, however, noted that despite the country’s
successes in overcoming violence and abuse against
women and children during conflict, domestic violence
and abuse remains rampant. “We all know that violence
begets violence”, he said, adding that “For a peaceful and
sustainable future of this nation, it is important that we act
against violence and abuse of children and women in
AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR RUHAMA homes and in community in a decisive manner.”
COUNTY, HON. JANET K. MUSEVENI, READS THROUGH A
COPY OF A SPECIAL CRC EDITION OF UNICEF’S THE STATE
OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN. PHOTO: COURTESY WVU The UNICEF-supported event was organised in collabo-
2009/AGGREY MUGISHA ration with World Vision Uganda and other civil society
organisations co-ordinated by the Uganda Child Rights
“Let us discuss these issues with children in ways they
can easily understand, but let us not assume that they
do not understand issues affecting them – they do
understand”, she added.
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs,
Hon. Jessica Alupo Epel, noted that Uganda had
achieved a lot for children since ratifying the Conven-
tion on the Rights of the Child in November 1990,
including institution of Universal Primary Education,
Other Vulnerable Children’s Policy. She, however,
noted that a lot more still needs to be done, not just by
the government, but all stakeholders and the commu-
nity, to ensure that children survive, develop, and are
protected from harmful influences and environment.
Dr. Sharad Sapra, UNICEF Representative in Uganda, UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE IN UGANDA, DR. SHARAD SAPRA,
applauded the Government of Uganda and all imple- MAKES A PRESENTATION ON THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN
menting partners for what they have achieved for chil- UGANDA, BEFORE PRESENTING A SPECIAL EDITION OF UNI-
dren in the last twenty years, and called for a recom- CEF’S THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN TO BE
LAUNCHED BY THE UGANDA FIRST LADY. PHOTO: COURTESY
and learning. WVU 2009/AGGREY MUGISHA
TEXT: ANNE LYDIA SEKANDI, COMMUNICATION OFFICER, UNICEF UGANDA