Staff Reporter
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the National Assembly and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The MOU is aimed at capacitating Parliament with research-based data to boost its advocacy efforts related to the rights of children.
There is already a long-standing partnership between UNICEF and Parliament, with such initiatives as the Children’s Parliament. UNICEF partnered with the National Assembly to launch the Fifth Children’s Parliament in 2019.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi, who commended UNICEF for its continued support in matters involving the wellbeing of children, noted during the signing ceremony that Parliament has always promoted the protection of rights of children including their participation in the democratic process.
“The continuous protection of the rights of all Namibians is fundamental to the effective functioning of democracy. It is therefore crucial that the legislature, within the scope of its work makes special provision for the most vulnerable groups in society,” Katjavivi said.
The Speaker further noted that the MOU will culminate in research-based data to support legislation, improved oversight, budgetary allocation, and proactive citizen’s engagements on issues pertaining to the rights of children.
The UNICEF Representative in Namibia, Rachel Odede noted prior to signing that children’s lives still lagged behind despite economic growth experienced in many countries.
“Children’s lives have not improved as much as they should. They are many causes for this including periodic natural disasters experienced by countries, budgetary pressures, capacity constraints, patterns of resource distribution, conflict and insecurity in some countries, and the continued impact of the HIV pandemic,” Odede said.
According to Odede, children still bear the brunt of vulnerabilities such as child poverty and violence at home.
