In order to reinforce the collaboration with Province and Districts in the implementation of the child care reform and strengthening the child protection system, NCC held a meeting with Northern Province and District officials.
Organized by the National Commission for Children (NCC) in a strong partnership with the Northern Province and Hope and Homes for Children, the one-day meeting was held on 27th June 2018 in Musanze District.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Claudine Uwera Kanyamanza, the Executive Secretary of NCC, reiterated the need of a strong collaboration to effectively address children’s issues.
“If we work together we can prevent many child protection issues. As District, we have to plan in a way that enables us to handle children’s issues especially emergency cases”. She requested
According to Innocent Habimfura, the Regional Operations Director, East and Southern Africa of Hope and Homes for Children, there is a need of a strong coordination of all partners in child protection field operating in each District.
“If we want to effectively respond to children’s issues we have to design a comprehensive coordination channel of all actors in child protection field. Lack of coordination at District level has been and is still a very big challenge. We have to solve it now.” He pointed out
The Governor of the Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianey Gatabazi, promised a strong collaboration to ensure that children issues are among key priorities in the District.
“We will make sure that the Vice Mayors in charge of Social Affairs incorporate children's wellbeing in their performance contract and coordinate regular meetings of all partners involved in child protection to make sure that children issues are addressed appropriately.” He said.
The meeting discussions went around child rights and protection in Rwanda, the implementation of child care reform and “Tubarere Mu Muryango Programme”/ Let’s Raise Children in Family, established initiatives to strengthen a community based child protection system as well as the role of the District in strengthening the existing child protection and care mechanisms.
Meeting resolutions
The meeting came up with various resolutions aiming at strengthening a community based child protection system directed to the District and others directed to the National Commission for Children.
Some of the resolutions directed to the District:
· Establishment of District child protection network (forum) to bring together all partners operating in child protection field to make sure that they act together to have a greater impact on addressing children’s issues. The members of the network will meet on quarterly basis to evaluate their activities and provide a report to the National Commission for Children;
· Identify “Malayika Murinzi” (foster care families) who can receive abandoned children at village level;
· Incorporate child protection activities in District’s plan and provide a budget for emergency children’s issues;
· Supervise the implementation of the National Children’s Summit’s resolutions and provide a report on the implementation status by July;
· Provide a monthly report on activities of “Inshuti z’Umuryango”/ Friends of the Family.
Resolutions directed to the National Commission for Children:
· Provide trainings to the in charge of civil status on the registration of children placed into family based care and in return sensitize parents who received children through Tubarerere Mu Muryango Programme to legalize the placements through adoption or guardianship;
· Continue the capacity building of local government on child protection;
· Undergoing a strong mobilization aiming at coaching children on their responsibilities including accomplishing small duties at home related to their age.
Apart from the Governor of Northern province who chaired the meeting, the meeting was also attended by military and police officials, some of the Mayors, as well as other District officials including the Vice Mayors in charge of Social affairs.
According to the established plan, NCC will conduct such a meeting in all Provinces and Kigali City, before August, 2018 ends.