August 21, 2019
By Mohamed Massaquoi
Artists , UNICEF and NaCCED officers dancing to the new song
UNICEF in collaboration with the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) and the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, have launched a theme song titled ‘for every child, every right’ as part of ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the UNICEF conference hall in Freetown.
NaCCED, with support from UNICEF put together leading Sierra Leonean artists to produce a song on violence against children, their education and wellbeing, among other issues affecting children in Sierra Leone.
While addressing the gathering, Chairman of NaCCED, Kalilu Ibrahim Totangi said for a very long time they have been working with UNICEF on issues dealing with children specifically in line with the CRC, which is an international convention that deals exclusively with the rights of the child.
He said NaCCED is charged with the responsibility of sensitizing members of the public on issues of national interest, adding that their collaboration with UNICEF and other partners was to propagate the main principles that is enshrined in the CRC.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those that contributed to this process especially the artists, Wahid, Vicky the Poet, Leonus Di Genius and many more.The protection of our children should be our utmost priority,” he said, adding that the council is ready to work with all Sierra Leoneans for a positive change.
UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Rushnan Murtaza, said children must be given all the honor, care and protection, adding that the CRC has got all the good things about children and that it was significant that Sierra Leone joins other countries to mark the occasion.
She said Sierra Leone is was one of the few countries in the West Africa Sub-Region that signed the CRC in 1990 as a major strategy to protect Sierra Leonean children, adding that some of the major pillars of the convention deals with recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of children and their participations.
“We are taking some time to celebrate the achievements and contemplate on the challenges. Sierra Leone has done a lot for children as this is eminent in the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio. This celebration also gives the opportunity for a renewed commitment to the children,” she said.
Acting Director of Children’s Affairs at the Ministry of Social Welfare, madam Joyce B Kamara, said the ministry was pleased to collaborate with other partners for the protection of Sierra Leonean children, adding that UNICEF has been very instrumental to their activities.
She said government instituted the children’s ministry to protect the right of the children of Sierra Leone after the CRC , adding that the enactment of the Child Right Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Disability Act were all put together in order to protect children
“Government has always presented report to the Committee of Expert in Geneva on the status of our children we also got a National Commission for Children and that is very helpful towards the activities of the ministry,” she said.