Power to the children!

A whopping 62% of the Namibian population is between the ages of 15 and 34, hence the children’s parliament strives to voice the rights of children and young people.
JUSTISIA SHIPENA
Justicia Shipena





Hosted by parliament, in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the first session of the fifth children’s parliament attracted a total of 98 children from all corners of Namibia.

The session was in full swing from 16 August and concluded this past Friday.

Under the theme ‘Engaging young people in the legislative process’, the children’s parliament aims to promote awareness of children’s rights and strengthen children’s participation in the legislative process and policy development.

According to Rachel Odede, the UNICEF country representative, the fifth children’s parliament is a continuation of the commitment made by Namibia when it ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the in 1990, six months after independence, to give its children a voice through the children’s parliament.

“On 20 November the world, including Namibia, will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),” she said.

Odede added this means that anyone who turns 29 this year is part of the first generation of Namibians to go from birth to adulthood, while being protected by the CRC.

She continued saying that article 21 of the CRC reminds us of the role of the state and adults in facilitating the participation of children and young people in decision-making processes on matters that affect their lives.

Odede said the article further states that governments should provide an opportunity and platform for children to be heard.

“The significance of this platform does not only rest in the fact that young people will have a say, but in its main goal of analysing issues that are of concern to young people,” she said.

National Assembly speaker Peter Katjavivi highlighted a few achievements of the previous children’s parliaments.

Katjavivi said the fourth session of the children’s parliament, which was held in May 2013, tabled and debated a total of 98 motions.

“The inputs from the fourth session of the children’s parliament led to the inclusion of clauses dealing with the National Advisory Council on Children and the children’s advocate/ombudsman in the Child Care and Protection Act,” he said.

Katjavivi added that important policy inputs from the fourth children’s parliament, like the need to give a second chance to young, pregnant girls to go back to school after delivering their babies, as well as those who fail grade 10, were incorporated into a policy by the line ministry.

“Such learners are considered for readmission, provided the facilities and resources are available to accommodate them,” he said.

Katjavivi implored the current children’s parliament members to use their experience to create a positive impact in the lives of other young people.

He also encouraged the newly elected members to seize the moment and maximise their participation in the life-changing experience.

Cristoph Ndengu, a learner at Gabriel Taapopi Secondary School, said what is exciting about being part of the children’s parliament is that they are the voice of the voiceless and represent fellow peers, who are not able to do so.

“It serves a great platform to advocate for children and youth empowerment, as what is social economic growth if the youth are not directly involved? I am able to air my views on issues that affect the youth and find different solutions to tackle them,” he said.

The elected and appointed leaders of the fifth children’s parliament

Name

Position

Region

Committee

Nevel Ndoli

Speaker

Zambezi

National Assembly

Josefina Ankonya

Deputy speaker

Erongo

National Assembly

Wayne McKay

Nephilian Kasilawa

Chairperson

Deputy chairperson

//Karas



Zambezi

Standing Committee on Gender Equality and Social Welfare

Rivaldo Kavanga

Eveline Namupala

Chairperson

Deputy chairperson

Khomas



Omusati

Standing Committee on Health

Ezekiel Kuhanga

Moesha Hengari

Chairperson

Deputy chairperson

//Karas



Khomas

Standing Committee on Children’s Rights and Climate Change

Lawrencius Simon

Ndinelao Shinyama

Chairperson

Deputy chairperson

Hardap



Erongo

Standing Committee on Education, ICT and Innovation

Breschneff Katjito



Chief whip

//Karas

National Assembly

Hope Kaizemi

Deputy chief whip

Hardap

National Assembly

Kennedy Victor

Chief whip assistant

Kunene

National Assembly

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 212.07/OZ UP +0.97% | Copper US$ 3.98/lb DOWN -0.0008 | Zinc US$ 2 446.40/T DOWN -0.41% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 86.78/BBP UP +0.45% | Platinum US$ 898.23/OZ UP +0.37% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.96 | EUR to NAD 20.53 | CNY to NAD 2.63 | USD to NAD 19.03 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.35 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.3 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 19.02 | USD to ZMW 24.97 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 73909.5 Up +0.41% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1516.02 Down -0.13% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12981.98 Up +0.34% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 28224.37 Down -2.87% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 212.07/OZ UP +0.97% | Copper US$ 3.98/lb DOWN -0.0008 | Zinc US$ 2 446.40/T DOWN -0.41% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 86.78/BBP UP +0.45% | Platinum US$ 898.23/OZ UP +0.37%