Ineffective National Children Forum

Children elected to represent others since June 2013 complain today about the lack of follow-up in their activities.-By Diane Uwimana

Aimable Barandagiye: “it is a big opportunity to have this forum in order to protect children and defend their rights effectively.”©Iwacu

“Since we have been elected, we have never met any official representative telling us how to organize our forum”, complains Mana-Elysée Nkengurutse, 14 years old, a pupil at Gikungu Primary School, form VI. He indicates that he has tried to advise his colleagues, unfortunately, they do not trust him because he is not well known in his quarter. “They find us jokers. They do not consider seriously what we are telling them. Furthermore, their parents do not believe us”, regrets Nkengurutse. Fleury Ngabirano, 14 Years old, from Gikungu Primary School, has the same view with Nkengurutse. “We had the last meeting with the official administration authority when we were preparing election. Till now, we do not know our role, responsibilities and duties in order to achieve the children forum objectives”, sadly states Ngabirano. He notes that three out of six members who constitute the communal committee have already been discouraged and do not accept to help others: “this is due to the lack of follow-up”. The case is also observed in Nyakabiga Commune. Prince Habonimana, 14, a pupil in 7th year in fundamental school, is in the communal elected committee. “We try to organize meetings between us. There isn’t any official person who has tried to help us to build our capacity”, says Habonimana. He is supported by Asina Mwevi from Nyakabiga Public Garden Primary School. “Since, we have been elected; we have tried to do our best in order to advise our colleagues”, adds Mwevi. According to these children, it is very important to know the children rights in order to defend them effectively. “If we are aware of them, there will no longer be any child born or detained in jail, and vulnerable children will receive fund through our advocacy. Furthermore, there will no longer be any street child”, urges Habonimana.

“600 million per year to make it operational”

Aimable Barandagiye, Chairman of FENADEB “National Federation of Associations defending the children rights and protection” and Former National Children Forum electoral technical committee, notes that what makes the forum non-operational is the lack of fund. “The Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender has taken this issue seriously. If there are some of them who are demotivated, it is very comprehensible, maybe it is because there is no follow-up to motivate them”, regrets Barandagiye. He indicates that at the beginning, the Forum should work effectively with a fundraising of BIF 600 million per year. “The forum risk disappearing while it has already been created”, emphasizes Barandagiye. For him, it is a big opportunity to have this forum in order to protect children and defend their rights effectively. “This first mandate of two years risks ending without making this children forum operational. Consequently, the next children who will be elected will be discouraged”, concludes Barandagiye. Ignace Ntawembarira, in Charge of Child and Family Department in the Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender, states that the Children Forum activities are hampered due to the school schedule. “Those who are elected are pupils, we plan to organize meetings on Easter holidays at the national level and others will be held during Summer holidays,” explains Ntawembarira. He also points out that those who are elected at the national level met in September 2013 to make an action plan. “We are at the beginning and it is hard to tackle some obstacles, but step by step we will solve them,” underlines Ntawembarira.