The child-friendly versions of three Acts were yesterday handed over to Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster and will serve to inform children on the laws which protect them.
The three acts are The Adoption of Children Act, The Custody, Contact, Guardianship, and Maintenance Act, and The Status of Children Act and have been produced by the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) and the Child Rights Division, Childcare and Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Labour,
Human Services and Social Security in collaboration with UNICEF.
Each booklet outlines relevant information on its specific act, including background information and definition of key terms.
Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission Aleema Nasir said the initiative to publish the acts was pushed by a workshop with children who voiced their interest in knowing what their rights were.
Addressing the few in attendance, Webster promised that the booklets would be distributed through her ministry. She said that the more children become familiar with their rights, the better Guyana will be.
Webster also commended UNICEF for its advocacy for children’s rights and the position it has taken in supporting programmes that enable Guyanese children to become better aware of the issues that affect them.
At least 15,000 copies of the books will be distributed to all the administrative regions of Guyana.
The RCC also plans to embark on an awareness programme for primary and secondary schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
This awareness programme will focus on the rights and responsibilities of the child, peer pressure, and child abuse.
According to Sandra Hooper, Commissioner of the RCC, these programmes will be conducted in Region 4, Georgetown and Region 3 and will target 6 schools in each of the designated areas.
