Dowa Children's Parliament Demands Action on Rights Violations
The children's parliamentarians emphasized that these issues are severely compromising their rights and called for urgent intervention to reverse the trend.
Dowa, Malawi - The Dowa Children's Parliament, which convened in Mponela-Dowa from Sunday to Monday this week, has issued a strong appeal to the government and other stakeholders to take immediate action to address widespread violations of children's rights in the district, writes Kondwani Kandiado.
During the two-day session, children raised a range of concerns that are significantly impacting their well-being and hindering their development. These issues include:
The negative effects of climate change on children
Inadequate access to essential drugs and medicines in hospitals
Prevalent cases of sexual harassment
A shortage of teaching and learning materials in schools
A rise in child marriages
Increased child labor
Poor quality education in the district
The children's parliamentarians emphasized that these issues are severely compromising their rights and called for urgent intervention to reverse the trend.
"It's high time authorities took action on the issues we've raised to create a safe and supportive environment for children in the district," stated Merveille Katulanya, a parliamentarian from Dzaleka Refugee Camp and the session's speaker.
"The children's parliament is an important platform for us to articulate issues affecting children and advocate for change."
Ten-year-old Diana Mwaya, a parliamentarian from When the Saints Girls Academy, highlighted the declining education standards and called for increased resource allocation, including textbooks and improved classrooms.
In response to the children's concerns, Dowa District Commissioner Stallich Mwambiya pledged the government's commitment to creating an enabling environment for children to enjoy their rights.
"We recognize the prevalence of child abuse in the district and have intensified efforts to address this issue by constructing more police units in the area," Mwambiya stated.
Lawrence Maulidi, Projects Manager at Plan Malawi, reaffirmed the organization's dedication to serving as a bridge between children and the government, ensuring that children's concerns are heard and addressed.
"We are committed to empowering children to confidently report issues affecting them to the relevant authorities for action," Maulidi emphasized.
The Dowa Children's Parliament was supported by funding from Plan International, World Vision International, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and When the Saints, among other organizations.