AFGHANISTAN: National Conference of Children

Summary: The Global Movement for Children group in
Afghanistan co-ordinated by Save the Children
Norway-Sweden is organising a national
conference of children in Kabul. About 120-150
children and their facilitators from the
provinces and Kabul are expected to
participate and interact 3 whole days.

National Gathering of Children's Group Representatives, from Balkh,
Badakshan, Baghlan, Gardez. Bamyan. Kabul, Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat -
December 2004

Planned by children’s groups (CWBCs, GMC, WCGs, CtoC, SGs)

With support from Save the Children Alliance, CFA, HIFA, SVF, Aschiana,
YCDP, UNHCR, AIHRC and Afghan Aid

Across Afghanistan girls and boys are being empowered to form their own
children’s groups. Over 1000 children’s groups exist in different provinces
of Afghanistan. With support from adults (families, communities, agencies)
boys and girls are demonstrating that they can play an active role in
raising awareness of their rights, solving their difficulties and rebuilding
their communities.

120 children have been elected as representatives of children’s groups
from the provinces around Afghanistan, these children are coming together
next week for a National Children’s Gathering from 12th – 14th December
2004.

For many of the children it is their first time to leave their home provinces
and meet children from other areas of Afghanistan. These children are
going to have an opportunity to share their views and raise their voices in
unity on behalf of all children in Afghanistan.

Children from all walks of life will be speaking out during this conference.
There will be children who were previously child combatants, children who
have grown up in institutions, working street children, IDPs, returnees,
disabled children and many other representatives of children around
Afghanistan.

Tuesday the 7th saw the inauguration of a new Afghan government with
the installation of a democratically elected President. Afghanistan signed
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 10 years ago and this
national gathering from 12th to 14th December provides a new opportunity
for Afghanistan’s children and government to work together to make the
rights of children a reality.

Country: 

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