International Children’s Forum to be launched

The International Children’s Forum will be launched this Sunday (November 20) at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex Stadium.

The government, through the Department for Community Development together with major partner UNICEF and other partners like, Save the Children, Child Fund, World Vision, Buk bilong Pikinini and others, will be joining in on this launch.

With the theme; “Let the children speak”, the event will coincide with International Children’s Day.

The day will see the children entertain the public. They will also be sharing with us how they wish to see their future.

Community Development Minister Delilah Gore said earlier this month that many issues today are affecting our children and we have yet to hear their collective voices.

“We are perhaps the only country in the world calling for this forum through legislation and it is mandatory we allow our children to speak and hear what they have to say,” Gore says.

She added that November 30 was chosen to coincide with International Children’s Day celebrations with the aim to introduce the concept and importance of a Children’s Forum, encourage high level government involvement, encourage donor partners and raise awareness of the Children’s Forum through media stakeholders and wider public.

The launch will bring together some schools from NCDC, which also includes special education schools.

“All of these will help shape our preparations for the first Children’s Forum on the 20th of November 2017, which will involve children from around the 22 provinces of PNG.”

Activities during the launch will include musical performances, dramas, creative dancing, art displays, discussions, special performances from the St John’s Blind Services Band and there will also be stalls from various stakeholders and partners.

Author: 
Annette Kora