SADC Regional Child Rights Reference Group meeting

The Regional Child Rights Reference Group (CRRG) is having its planning meeting in Pretoria on 31 May and 1 June 2012. Participants for the meeting are drawn from Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar and Lesotho. The objectives of the meeting are:

1. To develop the CRRG governance structure and mode of operations.
2. Develop advocacy and implementation plan for year 1. i.e. roll out of SADC minimum package of basic services for children
3. To discuss how to take forward the resolutions made in November 2011 during the Child Rights Conference.

The first day of the meeting is looking at the role of the CRRG. It is also to understand what is happening at country level. The discussions are very engaging and participation is high. In order for the network to function properly a number of questions were raised. These also helped in understanding the scope of its work. Some of the issues discussed and raiuse include: What networks exist, what is their status, the differences across countries and what is the understanding of ‘making a change in the children’s lives’? What is contained in the policy, budgets and operations of countries in relation to children? Who is involved in the process? Are the available resources accessible to those who implement programmes on the ground? What do we understand about minimum package?

The issue of child participation was discussed at length. The concern was: How do we ensure meaningful participation of children. Questions were asked: What is child participation? Does having children in a meeting constitute participation? How do we ensure that children are involved at local level? How do we solicit children’s views, voices and opinions? Is it easier to have children participate at national level so that their input is considered at regional level? Do we need parallel sessions for children?

The following resolutions were agreed to after amendments made during the plenary discussion of the 2011 conference:

   

1. Recognising that children’s rights will be realised by the active participation and contributions of all stakeholders, the conference resolves that civil society will collaborate and continuously engage with children and government and other regional & continental bodies, including but not limited to, SADC Secretariat, SADC Parliamentary Forum, African Union, the United Nations and the private sector.
2. Further noting the imperative of child participation in matters that affect them, the conference resolves to involve children in the regional child rights reference group, support their own initiatives and ensure that their views and voices are heard and considered.
3. The conference resolves to call upon governments in the region to do everything within their means and powers to support the realisation of child rights, particularly promoting the full implementation of the SADC Minimum Package of Basic Services for Children, African Charter on the Rights & Welfare of the Child and the UNCRC and its protocols.
4. Mindful of the need to monitor progress towards the realisation of children’s rights, the conference resolves that civil society and governments should work together in ensuring that country progress and monitoring reports are submitted to regional and international treaty bodies and recommendations are acted upon.
5. In order to implement conference outcomes and promote the co-ordination of children’s activities in the Southern African region, the conference established an interim civil society regional child rights reference group whose interim secretariat shall be Save the Children working with the SADC Council of NGOs.
6. The conference resolves that delegates will return home and consult with relevant stakeholders working with children in order to identify a representative to serve on the civil society Child Rights Reference Group and to ensure the involvement of these stakeholders in meaningful activity to advance child rights.
7. The conference acknowledges that in order to fulfill due process, focal people have been nominated from each country in order to take forward the process of establishing a regional child rights reference group.