KIGALI, Rwanda, 18th March 2014 - Partners engaged in child rights and protection join National Commission for Children (NCC) to assess the progress of the implementation of recommendations resulted from the 8th National Pediatric Conference, as NCC is tasked to lead the implementation of recommendations regarding the protection of Orphan and other vulnerable children,. The three-day conference attracted over 300 international and national researchers, development practitioners, experts and Rwanda children with the theme of “strengthening community ownership for equitable, effective and sustainable response to HIV among children in Rwanda”.

NCC Partners in the meeting/photo/NCC/2014

This progress assessment meeting started with sharing ideas among participants, highlighting what has been achieved, what has not as well as the way forward for the pediatric conference recommendations reach its objectives.

HATEGEKIMANA Lambert NCC officer in charge of protecting children righst/photo/NCC/2014

NCC officer in charge of protecting children right and promoting their welfare, HATEGEKIMANA Lambert explained that a lot has been done by partners in different districts though there are still few recommendations that are half way done. “Our partners are working hard with willingness, and by end the of 2014, which is our deadline, I am certain that all recommendations would have been achieved,” he said.

In the progress assessment meeting, Dr. KARANGWA, a lecturer from University of Rwanda College of Education, gave a presentation intended to call upon partners to advocacy for children living with disabilities so that the barriers which prevent them from enjoying their right like other children are removed. He noted that Children with disabilities are children first, like their peers & siblings! Equal ‘opportunities’ is all they require and not more and not less!

Tackling HIV

At the closing ceremony the Mr. Francois BISENGIMANA, Director of Adoption, Protection and Promotion of Child Rights/NCC, pledged continued government support. “I can assure you that we’ll continue to support and with you, our partners, all stakeholders including children to tackle the spread and impact of HIV,” she said.
The director said that the progress assessment is to inform relevant partners on what has been achieved but also quicken what has not been realized, “Your efforts through the assessment of the implementation help the country towards achievement of Millennium Development Goal 6 on combating HIV/AIDS and reaching universal access targets for prevention, protection, treatment care and support,” he added. He emphasized the importance of including activities intervening for children with disabilities and mainstreams them in their usual activities thus making them inclusive and child friendly.
He concluded by requesting partners to strengthen welfare of vulnerable children infected by HIV/AIDS in order to minimize its impacts on their wellbeing.
The meeting was convened and chaired by NCC in partnership with UNICEF, and brought together coordinators from the District Committee to fight against HIV/AIDS (CDLS) and partners intervening in the area of protection of children and fight against HIV/AIDS to evaluate the implementation of the recommendations adopted in the 8th National Pediatric conference.