Crc@20: Uganda Launch Of The Sowc Crc 20th Anniversary Edition

THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Remarks by Dr. Sharad Sapra, UNICEF Representative in Uganda, During the Launch UNICEF’s The State of the World’s Children Special Edition to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Parliament Conference Room Friday, 20 November 2009

The Convention on the Rights of the Child 20th Anniversary The First Lady and Hon. Member of Parliament for Ruhama County, Hon. Janet K. Museveni, The Honorary Junior Speaker of this Assembly, The Minister of State for Children Affairs, Hon. Jessica Alupo Epel, The Chairperson, Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of Civil Society, Representatives of the Media, Religious Leaders, Ladies, Gentlemen, and the Children of Uganda

It is indeed an honour – and a pleasure – to welcome and join you in all, as we launch this special edition of UNICEF’s flagship document, The State of the World’s Children (SOWC), to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Let me begin by congratulating all the children present here for ably presenting their views in such a lively debate with the Members of Parliament this morning. Today, we applaud what the Government of Uganda and all implementing partners have achieved for children in the last twenty years, and to renew our commitment to ensure that every child is kept alive, safe and learning. We celebrate, for instance, Uganda’s success in bringing an end to the scourge of brutalization of children and women and the night commuters. The Ugandan Army and Police, in dealing with the abducted children, have shown to the world that the defence forces and Police could be responsible partners in promotion and protection of child rights. We applaud the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE), which has brought Uganda closer to achieving the Millennium target to have every child from the age of 6 in school by 2015. The enactment of The Children’s Act (2000) is also an achievement, since it makes it possible for people making decisions affecting children to act with the wellbeing of children in mind. We hope that the ongoing review of the Children’s Act will soon be completed to strengthen efforts to keep children alive, safe and learning.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child 20th Anniversary It is also a time for reflection. We have five years to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Goals that are important milestones towards achievement of child rights. It is a promise we have made to the children of this country. It is a promise we must not break. While we have been successful in overcoming violence and abuse against women and children during conflict, domestic violence and abuse remains rampant. We all know that violence begets violence. For a peaceful and sustainable future of this nation, it is important that we act against violence and abuse of children and women in homes and in community in a decisive manner. The right to identity and citizenship are fundamental rights within the convention. Birth registration is the first step towards identity and citizenship of a child. Urgent and accelerated action is needed to get all children registered at birth or soon thereafter. A sustainable future is possible when the young are aware of their rights and their entitlements and can hold all of us, adults accountable. When the young are able to share their views and opinions and when those are taken into consideration while designing policies and programmes that affect their future. New tools and technologies now allow us in Uganda to do so in a much more effective way. They allow Uganda to leapfrog and set an example for the rest of the continent on how results can be achieved for children. Honourable First Lady, ladies, gentlemen and the future of this nation, children of Uganda. Thank you for being active stakeholders in the launch of The State of the World’s Children (SOWC), this year.. I hereby present to you, Honourable First Lady, The State of the World’s Children (SOWC), to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Thank You …