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Parliamentarians promise to uphold child rights
View(s):Sri Lankan Parliamentarians, from all political parties, launched the country’s first ever Parliamentary Caucus for Children, a news release from the UNICEF said.
The launch was to mark the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified by Sri Lanka in 1991.
The launch took place at an event in Parliament attended by a wide selection of Parliamentarians, Government officials, civil society members, the media and the diplomatic corps. In his keynote address, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said “the Parliamentary Caucus for Children will be the instrument at the highest level, to take the vision of the CRC forward to benefit the future generations of this country.”
Also speaking at the event Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda requested “all Parliamentarians of Sri Lanka, to join hands with me and pledge their commitment to strengthen the implementation of the CRC for our children.” This pledge of commitment, reaffirms that Members of Parliament will be guided by the CRC in the formulation of policies, budgets, laws and programmes of action for children, UNCEF said.
The concept of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children was initiated by the Parliament of Sri Lanka following a request made to the Speaker by Dr. Mrs Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Member of Parliament and it was endorsed by the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs and supported by UNICEF.
“Parliamentarians are in a unique leadership position to make long-lasting changes for children.” Una McCauley, UNICEF’s Representative to Sri Lanka said.
“ UNICEF sincerely looks forward to working with the caucus to see how we can sustain the great progress already achieved for children in this country, while tackling some of the challenges they still face,” she added.