The rights of Barbadian children came to the fore yesterday when the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development re-launched the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child.

Speaking at the re-launch, which took place at the Warrens Office Complex, Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steven Blackett, said that the committee would shortly submit and defend its second report on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in Barbados to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

He added that the committee was also tasked with advising on the implementation of the Articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

???The other duties of this committee are to advocate, advise and make recommendations on issues and policies aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of children; to facilitate public education exercises aimed at sensitising communities and building partnerships with respect to the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and to liaise with the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development to ensure the timely reporting on the Convention to the relevant International Monitoring Authorities,??? he explained.

Minister Blackett reiterated that Barbados??? ratification of the Convention in October 1990 was a promise to this nation???s children that every effort would be made to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential.

???In addition, through its ratification, Barbados accepted an obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights as outlined in the 54 articles of the Convention, including adopting or changing laws and policies that are needed to implement the provisions of the agreement,??? he pointed out.

The members of the committee are: Chairman, Faith Marshall-Harris; Deputy Chairman, Shelley Scantlebury; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development or a nominee; Juanita Brathwaite; the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers??? Union or a nominee; Marcia Graham; Patricia Padmore-Blackman; Damien Mascoll; Alvin Mayers; Father John Rogers; and Nailah Robinson.

kim.ramsay-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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