The rights of Bissau-Guinean children continue to be violated - Children's Parliament

Bissau, June 7, 2016 - We are in the middle of the child fortnight which runs from 1 to 16 June, and includes the celebrations of the International Children's Day on 1June, World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, and African Child Day on 16 June. The Children's Parliament of Guinea-Bissau seized the opportunity to warn that "the rights of the Guinean children continue to be violated" and to called on the leaders of the country consider the good of future generations."

22 Jun 2016

The rights of Bissau-Guinean children continue to be violated - Children's Parliament

The celebrations of the fortnight of the Child under the theme "Conflict and Crisis in Africa", let us protect all the rights of children" are of special importance this year not only because they coincide with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the National Children's Parliament, but also with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Fund for children (UNICEF), and its 40th anniversary in promoting the rights and welfare of children in Guinea-Bissau.

The celebrations began with a meeting of the Children's Parliament of Guinea-Bissau in the National Assembly, in the presence of UNICEF Representative, Abubacar Sultan, who warned about the specific impact that the chronic instability in the country is having on Guinea-Bissau’s children.

In his turn, the president of the Children's Parliament, Nela Augusto Mantija said "children's rights are not respected in Guinea-Bissau because two months ago the most fundamental rights of children were violated, including the right to school and the right to health."

She also stated that "children are not the future of this country, but the present, because the future is not tomorrow, the future is now, it is today that these children need good schools, a stable country, because any country that wants to develop has the obligation to respect the rights of children."

About 11% of the total child population in the world perform some kind of work, warns the report "Measuring Progress in Combating Child Labor", published by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Child labor has declined, but in 2020 the goal of eradicating the worst forms of work would be achieved, says the organization.

Although Guinea-Bissau ratified the Conventions on child labor, it remains the first country in the PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African countries) and the sixth country in the world with big child labor rate, where 38% of children are under this condition, according to data published by UNICEF in 2014, a situation that needs to be improved.

The International Day of the African Child on 16 June draws the attention to the reality of thousands of African children who every day are victims of violence, exploitation and abuse. The trafficking of children, forced or early marriage, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, child labor and female circumcision are still common practices.