The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Online
President Mnangagwa has left for Zambia for commemorations to mark World Children’s Day, which is celebrated on November 20 each year to improve children’s welfare, promote international togetherness and raise awareness among children worldwide.
He was seen off at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, service chiefs and senior Government officials.
On November 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
Thirty years later, it also adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Since 1990, World Children’s Day commemorates the anniversary of both the Declaration and Convention on children’s rights.
This year’s celebrations are running under the theme “Inclusion, For Every Child.”
They come at a time when Government has heightened the fight against child abuse, including drug and substance abuse.
Zimbabwe has a comprehensive legislative framework for protecting children against abuse.
Section 81 of the Constitution outlines a Bill of Rights for children, while laws such as the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:15) outlaw and criminalise child marriage in any form.
The Children’s Act (Chapter 5:06) similarly criminalises neglect and defines parameters of children in need of care.
Currently, the National Assembly is seized with the Children’s Amendment Bill, which is envisaged to address various gaps to ensure effective implementation of provisions of the Constitution and commitments made to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, among others.
The Children’s Amendment Bill is being jointly considered with the Child Justice Bill, as the two pieces of legislation complement each other in ensuring the comprehensive protection of children.
