The National Commission for Children (NCC) with support from Plan International on Thursday 21st July 2016 launched its three year Strategic Plan 2016 – 2018 at the Hill Valley Hotel, Signal Hill Road, Freetown.
Commissioner of the NCC Mrs. Olayinka Laggah in her power point presentation said the National Commission for children was established by an Act of Parliament in 2007 as an independent body to assume several functions in the realization of children’s rights. These include: to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; to oversee the implementation of Part III of the Child Rights Act and to advise Government on policies aimed at the improvement of the condition and welfare of children in Sierra Leone compatible with the CRA, the UNCRC and the ACRWC.
The purpose of developing the strategic plan she said is to enable the Commission identify its key priorities for children within its mandated functions, the approach it will apply and the outcomes and measures of success it expects to achieve for the next 3 years. These she said include improved policy and legal framework to protect children’s rights; improved coordination, monitoring and reporting for integrated response services; children as rights holders empowered to monitor and advocate for fulfillment of their rights; improved data collection/reporting and research on children for leveraging of resources and advocacy work and Strengthened Institutional and Operational Capacity of the Commission.
Plan International Country Representative Casely Coleman said his organization is delighted to have supported the development of the strategic plan and the design of the commission’s website which demonstrates Plan’s commitment to supporting the government and people of Sierra Leone in promoting the rights of children.
He assured the NCC that Plan will continue to be one of its leading partners and would be actively involved in the implementation of the plan to ensure that it becomes a success.
Member of the Children Broadcasters Network formed by the NCC Eugenia Rogers said the Commission has always involved children in all its activities to ensure that their opinions are heard and concerns taken into consideration and that the Strategic Plan is no exception.
She went further to highlight the problems affecting children in the country including rape, teenage pregnancy, child labour, child marriage, family crises and that they continue to be on the increase despite the many strides made by various bodies to address them.
Ms. Rogers however noted that all these issues cannot be entirely eradicated but that they could be minimized and one sure way she said is for the NCC to continue its collaboration with the Children Broadcasters Network so they will continue with their sensitization programmes to their peers and the people of Sierra Leone.
Speaking of her vision for children in the next three years, Ms. Rogers said she will like to see a Sierra Leone where every child can freely express his/her opinion especially on issues concerning them, where every child is in school and not on the streets and that no child would be engaged in child labour especially child street selling.
She called on the government and all national and international partners dealing with children to help the NCC successfully implement its Strategic plan so all children in the country will be assured of a better life and future.
Officially launching the Strategic Plan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the MSWGCA Honorable Hassan Sesay said the creation of the NCC is a commitment by the Government to ensure that every vulnerable population in the country is cared for.
He assured all Child rights activists and development partners involved in the protection of children’s rights of Parliament’s willingness to strengthen the laws protecting children. He said the political will demonstrated and actions taken by Government are indicators of the desire for children who are the most vulnerable in the society to be well taken care of and their issues properly addressed/ He however appealed for more attention to be paid to children in the rural areas because they are more vulnerable. Hon. Hassan Sesay called on all partners of the NCC to support the Commission in the implementation of its strategic plan,
Director of Children’s Affairs of the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Madam Kadie Buya Kamara said she is very impressed with the work of the Commission at such a short time since it started operations and described its staff as being passionate about their work with and for children. She said the MSWGCA and the NCC have a common goal amidst the countless challenges regarding children’s issues stressing that so much needs to be done if children’s rights are to be protected.
She calls for a full enforcement of the laws by all concerned to ensure that all issues concerning children including child labour, teenage pregnancy, early/child marriage, poor parenting within the homes are adequately addressed.
Chairman of the Programme Mr. Brima A. Sheriff, Chairman Human Rights Commission – Sierra Leone in his closing remarks thanked all for their invaluable support and contribution to the success of the strategic plan and called on partners to support the NCC to achieve its goals.
This was followed by comments and responses from partners present at the launching.