As Children Engages Members of Parliament on Child Rights Bill…
YACAN Ask ‘How Far’
By Mohamed Konneh
The Youth and Child Advocacy Network YACAN, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and children’s Affairs on Wednesday 23rd November 2022 engaged members of parliament on the child Rights Bill with the theme ‘How far’. The engagement took place at the Don Bosco Conference Hall, Fort Street in Freetown.
In his opening remarks the Deputy Commissioner, Children’s Commission, Fabundeh Ansumana said the right of children to participate in their own development is key and this is exactly what is YACAN is doing.
Mr. Ansumana said the engagement is critical especially meeting with members of parliament on such a sensitive matter that hinges on the development of children.
Giving the background and rationale of the meeting the Executive Director of YACAN, Hassan Fuad Kanu said YACAN is not demanding for the bill to be enacted into law but simply asking how far with the Child Right Bill 2022.
He said with funding from ‘Out of the Shadows, they are having this engagement to give opportunities to children to ask questions to members of parliament as to how far they have gone with the bill that protects them.
‘We believe advocacy should not be around violence but through sitting and talking together and lobby. Out of the Shadows is our donor and they work with organizations that work on child sexual exploitation, abuse against the children and gender base violence, he said.’
In 2021 the draft bill was peruse and reviewed and that each section was looked at and it was then agreed to conduct regional and district verification of the reviewed Child Right Act.
He said following the validation the document was sent to the draftsman.
‘Before this time we’ve been able to reach out to schools and we found out lot of challenges. The schools are populated and children faced series of challenges. In all of the schools we visited the children are having different perspective of the bill. Some think parliament should just passed the bill and this is not the case, he said.’
The Vice President of the Children’s Forum Network, Foday Bangura appreciated YACAN for creating this platform noting that this is where they interrogate members of parliament.
‘This is a laudable venture and we applauded YACAN, the Children’s commission and our members of parliament who are here with us, he said.’
Hon. Dr. Mamoud Kalokoh in his statement expresses happiness noting that he is happy to discuss and interact with children.
‘These are our children and we must make sure they are protected. The only thing that protects them are laws that are progressive.
Hon. Dr. Kalokoh noted that this current parliament is a different parliament because its members are coming from diverse backgrounds.
The Member of Parliament explained how bills are passed into law noting that Parliament do not develop laws.
‘Laws develop comes to us for enactment. It can be an amendment or new bill to pass into law. We want to say when bills of national interest comes to us we give it due consideration, he said.’
Dr. Hon. Kalokoh noted that bills that comes to parliament go through first reading, second reading and third reading. But before the bill is committed to the select committee it will have to take into consideration concerns from the public.
This he said is where things that are not necessary will be stroke off and other listed for enactment.
Hon. Catherine Kamara said the child right bill is been overhaul and that we will have a new bill that will reflect the aspiration of the children of Sierra Leone.
‘We've gone far with the bill and that this bill has the support of the entire parliament. We are supporting this bill as parliament, as a people because we know it will support and protect our children. You are the future, she said.’
Hon. Catherine noted that early marriage is killing young girls and this is something they have discussed relentlessly in the child right bill.
‘Also in the bill we ask that the children should have their own parliament. We will continue working hard to do our best for this bill to become law, she said.’
