The newly established Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Children represents a pivotal step in advancing the untapped human potential and shedding light on child rights with 43% of the population under the age of 18 years old in the country.
Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children said, her visit to the country is not to do a report but to find ways on how to advocate and action the rights of children and youths in the political agenda.
“It is a testimony for me to see that there is strong commitment to that. Today you establish this Permanent Parliamentary Committee that it’s really important to promote, monitor and to remind all the policy makers who have made a commitment to deliver and held accountable.”
Dr. Najat said, the statistics presented show an alarming view of where the country is at and urged the committee to be careful when differentiating child protection and child wellbeing to not only address but take action and invest.
“Child protection and wellbeing is not a check list. You have to ACT! It’s really how we can make sure that access to health and education is accessible.”
She stated that, to ensure that the child is in a safe environment and has access to essential and vital services, parents need to be educated and empowered to be sure they have a good and safe living condition to provide for the kids.
She added that PNG’s unique diversity is an advantage for the committee to bring together the community, religious leaders and all the people to them as part of the solution while empowering the target audience, the youth and children.
“I saw that you have many programs, you are doing a lot. But just connect the dot. This is very important. You are over lapping. You have to see what services are needed and how people will have access to it.”
She further stressed to the committee to see child protection and wellbeing as an investment and not additional expenses.