POLOKWANE – The Children’s Parliament is to be held under the auspices of the national Department of Social Development and the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund and is in line with the country’s Children’s Act (No.38 of 2005), to “create a platform for children’s participation in democracy and provides them an opportunity to influence policies and strategies intended to realise their rights.”
The children arrived in the province on Wednesday, 3 October and will be shown around and orientated in the Legislature today, while tomorrow is set apart for the 2018 Children’s Parliament.
The objectives of the Children’s Parliament are to create a platform for children to engage and give their input on policy matters affecting them. Children between 12 and 17 years from all provinces in South Africa will be given the opportunity to give their inputs.
The idea is to use the legacy of Nelson Mandela as a tool in promoting active civic participation and dialogue between the different generations and to create a platform of engagement where the voices of children can be heard directly from them by those who provide services to them, but also for children to commit to their own responsibilities. At the same time they will be provided with access to observe formal parliamentary processes, deliberations and experience it in the real-life realm.
Since it was inaugurated in 2011, the Children’s Parliament has been held annually to celebrate Tata Madiba’s values and commitment to the children of South Africa by giving children a platform to discuss issues that affect them.
