People get a say on new act for children

THE Child Care and Protection Bill roadshow visited the four ‘O’ regions in the North last week. A public consultation meeting was held at Ongwediva from May 26 to 29, where Rachel Coomer of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and Loide Nekundi and Monalisa Zatjirua, both from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, led discussions around the proposed law.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Oshana regional Governor Klemens Kashuupulwa, Ongwediva Constituency Councillor Thikameni Ekandjo said: ‘Children are powerless but priceless, have quiet voices, yet so expressive. We speak a lot about children and how important they are, make a reference to the children as being the future nation, but they are living right now, their childhood is happening today and not in the future, therefore we need to actively participate in the discussion and make worthy contributions.’The consultation roadshow has already visited the Karas, Hardap, Caprivi and Kavango regions.The Bill, drafted in 1994 already to replace the Children’s Act 33 of 1960, is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, and the LAC, with support from Unicef, are in the process of preparing the Child Care and Protection Bill for tabling in Parliament.The Windhoek leg of the roadshow will take place at the Windhoek Country from June 8 to 12.