Workshop focuses on regional child protection systems
Stabroek News
November 30, 2002
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and UNICEF recently concluded a three-day workshop that focused on the local system for integrated child protection and the establishment of regional child protection systems.
According to a UNICEF release, the workshop which celebrated the first anniversary of regional committees on the Rights of the Child in Regions Six and Ten was held at the Cara Inn on Pere Street, Kitty from November 25-27.
The topics discussed were the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Guyana, Advocating the Rights of the Child and Child Protection Systems.
The objective of the workshop was to allow the members of the committees on the Rights of the Child in Regions Six and Ten to review their methods of approach, and the work which they have been doing generally over the past year in their regions, UNICEF said.
The committees have been working to advocate and implement programmes for the rights of children in areas of primary health care, water and environmental sanitation, basic education, child labour, child abuse (and domestic violence) teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, the release informed.
In 2001, the Government of Guyana and UNICEF committed themselves to encourage children, women and their families to access and exercise their rights towards establishing a framework for localized and integrated child protection.
In their work over the past year, the members of the committees in Regions Six and Ten have become convinced that sensitising regional authorities, and citizens generally on the rights of the child will help in the establishment of an integrated network to ensure quick responses to the protection of children, the release said.
Participants of the workshop were addressed by Dr Sreelakshmi Gururaja, Assistant Representative, UNICEF; Anande Trotman, Attorney-at-Law; Violet Speek, Assistant Programme Officer, UNICEF; Patricia Gray, Deputy Chief Probation and Family Welfare Officer, Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
Planning meetings will be organized in future to follow up the progress of the establishment of the child protection systems in the regions, the release added.
