National Children’s Commission courts children’s on guidelines

The National Children’s Commission (NCC) on Saturday engaged children to seek their input towards draft guidelines for identifying two co-opted child commissioners as guided by the National Children’s Commission Act.

The engagement took place at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe where ten children drawn from various areas represented their fellow children across the country in the validation of the draft guidelines.

One of the NCC Commissioners, Benedicto Kondowe, described the engagement as crucial to the formulation of the guidelines that will help in the identification of the two co-opted child commissioners.

“The National Children’s Commission is the commission for children: Without them, there’s no commission,” said Kondowe, adding: “The National Children’s Commission Act provides that the composition of the Commission will be complete with the appointment of two co-opted child commissioners, hence this engagement to have the children’s voice on the guidelines for identifying the said child commissioners.”

Kondowe hailed the children’s input, saying it will make the guidelines represent what the children want, as owners of the Commission.

Among other contributions, the children called for representation of children with disabilities and, also, representation of children at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the NCC.

The children also told the Commission to consider room for an election to allow children replace child commissioners who fail to deliver to the satisfaction of those they represent in the Commission.

One of the children who participated in the validation of the guidelines, Tshiamo Mpangeni, 14, from Chipasula Secondary School, said the engagement was “very helpful” as it had given the children an opportunity to contribute towards the guidelines, on behalf of their fellow children.

“We’re happy to be part of this and we hope that the gaps that we have identified and the contributions that we have made, will be taken into consideration and be incorporated in the final document,” said Mpangeni.

The NCC was established under the National Children’s Commission Act No. 12 of 2019, and the Amended Act No. 24 of 2022, to advance the welfare of children in Malawi.

The final guidelines, which will incorporate the children’s feedback, will be ready by February 17, 2025, according to Commissioner Kondowe.