“Every child that is of such an age, maturity and stage of development has to be able to participate in any matter concerning that child has the right to participate in an appropriate way and views expressed by the child must be given due consideration.” – The Children’s Act.
In line with this prescript of the Children’s Act (No.38 of 2005), the children of South Africa will get a chance to tell the country during the 4th Annual Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament how they have experienced the first twenty years of democracy and, in their view, what challenges still remain in the progressive realisation of their democratic rights and responsibilities.
The Children’s Parliament – hosted by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in partnership with the Department of Social Development and the Parliament of South Africa – creates a platform for children’s participation in democracy and provides them an opportunity to make input to policies as well as programmes and strategies intended to realise their rights.
It is also a practical credence to the notion that children should not only be seen but also heard. It is a national response to the call by children for accountability by all stakeholders including government departments, civil society organisations, caregivers, teachers, private sector and all other people who have responsibilities for the protection and wellbeing of children.
As such, the 108 children (aged between 11 and 17) who will participate in the Children’s Parliament will also have an opportunity to interact with decision makers in government in a breakfast meeting. These include Directors-General from the departments of Social Development, Health, Education and Justice as well as the National Commissioner of Police.
The anticipated outcome of the Children’s Parliament is a commitment from the role players on how matters raised by children will be incorporated into ongoing planning for the advancement and protection of children’s rights and how these will be translated to practicable programmes.
The Children’s Parliament is part of a series of workshops, lectures and discussion fora that Parliament has organised to mark South Africa’s twenty years of freedom under the theme “Twenty Years of a Democratic Parliament”.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Children’s Parliament, which will take place as follows (also refer to attached draft programme):
Parliamentary Session
Date: 9 October 2014
Time: 08h30
Place: Old Assembly, Parliament of RSA, Cape Town
Breakfast with Directors-General
Date: 10 October 2014
Time: 07h00
Place: Pepper Club Hotel, Cape Town
Media RSVPs may be directed to:
• Jaconia Kobue: jaconiak@dsd.gov.za or 073 026 1111
• For Parliament accreditation contact: Masego Dlula: mdlula@parliament.gov.za or 021 403 8141 or 073 696 9387
• Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund contact, Kagiso Bonoko: kagisob@nmcf.co.za or 079 768 8070
Media inquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
Cell: 083 484 8067.
