The 7th National Summit held on 4th January 2012 at the Parliament Building was completed successfully with a total attendance of about 800 people including 550 child delegates and over 200 government officials. Among the children present were representatives of children from refugee camps, orphanages and disabled children.
Prime Minister Habumuremyi (fourth right) and Minister Inyumba (fourth left) in a group photo with some of the children that attended the Summit (Photo/MIGEPROF).
The Chief Guest Right Hon. Pierre Habumuremyi Prime Minister of Rwanda honoured the children with his presence throughout the Summit. This shows the consistent commitment of the Government of Rwanda to hear the children’s suggestions and deal with their concerns. The children were assured that they are indeed an important part of what is going on in the nation.
The National Children’s Summit has been held annually since 2004 and is a national consultative forum between government and the children of Rwanda. The Summit itself is held after a series of grassroots consultations from cell level through which children discuss their ideas and their elected representatives then present them at the National Summit.
Hon. Habumuremyi conveyed H.E President Kagame and the First Lady’s best wishes to the children. He assured them of government’s full attention displayed by the cross section of government officials present to listen and put into action what the children suggested. As part of the President’s commitment to the children and to dialogue with them, the National Commission for Children, which was a request made by the children at a previous summit was recently established. The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Hon. Aloisea Inyumba highlighted important government achievements in line with recommendations made at previous children’s summits. She introduced the Commissioners and the Executive Secretary of the Commission.
The children expressed appreciation that their request had been granted and that they now have an independent Commission to focus on their issues and follow up and ensure implementation of their recommendations. The Prime Minister assured the children that the President would continue to give them what they asked for as a good parent. The Prime Minister noted that the notion held by some that there is no freedom of speech in Rwanda is dispelled by such events that show a different Rwanda where even young people are given an opportunity to speak out and be heard.
He urged the children to desist from vices such as sugar daddies and mummies, alcohol and drugs that would shorten their lives with HIV/AIDS and premature death and prevent them from reaching the goals they set for themselves. He assured the children that they are the foundation for development and the dream for the future and they should take advantage of the opportunity to be educated so that they will be able to solve Rwanda’s problems in future.
The President of the Summit, Ngabonziza Eric, who is one of the vulnerable children since he is deaf and dumb; speaking through sign language expressed the children’s wish that their recommendations be included in District Imihiigo in order to be fully implemented. This was accepted as a viable way forward.
UNICEF Country Representative Noala Skinner assured the children that they had the attention of people who write policy and those responsible to implement it. She encouraged them to speak out and express their views. She congratulated the government of Rwanda on providing such a forum which shows that the children of Rwanda are at the heart of development.
In a video message relayed to the children, UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake said there are not many countries where children are being included this far. He noted that in Rwanda it was not ‘about’ children, as it is in many other places, but ‘with’ children and that brings about national transformation. Equity achieves results, he said, and Rwanda is one of the countries achieving results.
The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion thanked the children for coming to the Summit and also thanked their parents and guardians as well as the care takers for enabling them to represent the other children. She thanked partners who supported the Ministry and the National Commission for Children to make this Summit possible. The Summit was led by children and they presented recommendations from the consultative sessions under the following sub-themes: • The family • Health and Nutrition • Inclusive Education Apart from the presentation of recommendations made by children at the consultative forums, the children in attendance were given an opportunity to ask policy makers present various questions on these sub-themes. Questions were also taken from callers from around the country and suggestions were received by sms. Issues such as children being denied the opportunity to go to school because they are too poor to afford their contribution; children who are taken to the cities to provide cheap labour; follow up of orphans who were taken into homes and mistreated and a lot more were brought up. Government officials present were able to give explanations on issues under their jurisdiction and requested to follow up the other cases. You can read a draft copy of recommendations made by the children under Recommendations.
In closing, the children were also requested to be a positive influence to their peers and urge them to be disciplined and obedient to and cooperate with their parents. They were also urged to set goals for themselves and be part of creating the change they need to see in their homes and in the nation.
By A. K. Otiti