“Children’s participation in decision making processes, is their right”

Over 100 children from eight colleges participated in the first preparatory event leading to the 84th Extraordinary Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that will be held in Samoa from the 2nd to the 6th of March, 2020.

Children’s active participation at the school debates on child rights issues that were organized by Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the support of the United Nations and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in preparation for the 84th Extraordinary Session reflects the commitment of Samoa to uphold the right of every child to meaningful participation in decision making processes that may affect their lives, whether it is at the national, regional and international level.

The school debates will enhance children’s awareness of their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and provide for an opportunity for them to express their views on certain child rights issues.

The school debate, is not a competition between schools, rather it is an event where a spirit of collaboration and respect amongst children will be encouraged, according to the Assistant Chief Executive Officer Perenise Stowers of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, involved in the coordination of the debates.

The school debates will enable the selection of children who will play a key role as co-moderators for the side events of the 84th Extraordinary Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and also an opportunity for the children to learn about the convention and the work of the Committee .  This will help them prepare for their active participation in the events next week.

Children participating in the event will also meet with representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF and hear from them about the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Committee, and how children can engage with the Committee both next week during the session, including on Monday 2 March 2020 as part of the Committee’s meeting with the children of Samoa, as well as in more general terms through contributing directly to the Committee’s work.

The schools involved in the School Debates include, Samoa College, Avele College, St Mary’s College, Leifiifi College, Maluafou College, Pesega College, Robert Louis Stevenson and Chanel College.

During the school debates, children will not only represent their schools, but also more broadly the ‘children of Samoa’.