Minister Gore announces launch of Children’s Forum

The Lukautim Pikinini Act Section 14 Sub Section F calls for a Bi- Annual Forum for children to meet to discuss issues that affect them.

Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development, Delilah Gore announced the launching of the Children’s Forum which will take place on November 30 at the Sir John Guise.

Since the launch of the Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, Department for of Religion, Youth and Community Development has completed the regulations with the assistance of the Constitutional Law and Reform Commission.

The department also completed the Child Protection Policy with the assistance of UNICEF, trained law enforcement agencies on their role in the implementation of the Lukautim Pikinini Act as well as trained provincial and district welfare officers on the Lukautim Pikinini Act.

Minister Gore says many issues today are affecting our children and we have yet to hear the collective voices of our children and how they see us addressing some of the issues that affect them.

“We are perhaps that only country in the world calling for this forum through legislation and it is mandatory we allow our children to speak and 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.

The theme of the launch will be: “Let The Children Speak” and the day will see the children entertain the public on the day. They will also be sharing with us how they wish to see their future.

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