The East African Community Child Rights Conference that addressed Issues that negatively impact on the realization of Child Rights in the East African Community concluded September 3, at Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Children and participants knocked into shape the Bujumbura Declaration and Recommendations on Child Rights and Wellbeing in the EAC.
Hon. Leontine Nzeyimana, Burundi’s Minister for East African Community Affairs, who officiated at the closing ceremony informed delegates and the children that early childhood represents a window of great opportunities and the consequences of missing these opportunities are far-reaching, costing families and governments considerably.
She said by anticipating the issues that negatively impact on the realization of child rights, the Community shall have made not only savings, but also strong and sustainable investments and noted that Partner States were experiencing high levels of primary school registration but few children make it to secondary levels of education.
“This situation calls for action to live up to the commitments for a bright future of our children,” said the Minister.
Nzeyimana said as it is in the early period of life that values, attitudes, behavior and basic life skills were shaped, thus “it was our individual and collective responsibility to nurture and reinforce in our children the values that foster peace and harmony, tolerance, respect for others, sharing, justice and equality”.
Presenting the Bujumbura Declaration and Recommendations on Child Rights and Wellbeing in the EAC, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo said the Conference was a historic event that operationalizes Article 120 of the EAC Treaty.
“We are greatly indebted to the Partner States, our development partners and to all those who have lent critical support to the holding of this Conference which is of great significance to our region,” noted Hon. Eriyo.
She said the Community was overwhelmed by the participation in the Conference at the high level of Ministers of various Ministries of the Partner States, EALA, National Parliament and the Representatives from respective organizations and the Inter-Agency working groups (UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International, World Vision, African Child Policy Forum, and Elisabeth Glaser Foundation), adding that “with this response, we are encouraged of the high importance attached to the issue of Child’s rights but also of the readiness to implement the outcome of this Conference.
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