Submitted by Robin on
Name
Anne Musiwa
Languages
English
Country of origin
Zimbabwe
Current position/function
Anne supports and advocates for child friendly environments and for the promotion of child survival and development in a range of instituions. Anne also advocates for the placement of abandoned children and for the availability of quality, accessible services for victims of child violence.
Anne reviews and upgrades standard guidelines on the management of survivors of child violence and offers training on child violence interventions to health workers and other stakeholders as well as coordinating the development and implementation of community based programme initiatives.
Why do you want to serve as a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child?
My motivation to be a member of the Committee is my dedication and passion on children’s issues. As globally, children’s well being is now highly compromised by several factors e.g. natural disasters, climate changes, political instability and poverty. This call for voices that advocate for administrative measures and legislature that promotes safe, secure environments, which will allow children to survive and develop to their maximum potential.
The drive to serve on this Committee is to hold dialogue with Member States on the importance of taking into consideration the best interests of the child in all situations, as this forms the basis of the other three principles of the CRC towards the promotion of child wellbeing from grassroots, into the global community.
It is my passion for Member States to consider separating children with mental health challenges (regardless of the cause), from adult institutions or services e.g. a child suffering from drug induced psychosis. Such children should be in child friendly environments. The right to mental wellbeing for children appears to be very silent from a global perspective, especially in developing and some of the developed countries.
What do you think are the emerging issues and challenges in the implementation of the CRC?
In my view, some States have become victims of extreme poverty, natural disasters as a result of climate changes, high population growth, internal conflicts, political stalemate and the growing problem of refugees are among the issues and challenges in the implementation of the CRC. All these calamities have extreme effects on the welfare of children, limiting their right to access to nutritious food, clean water, medical care and education. One example, is of Somalia when it became the victim of one of the worst droughts in the recent years, many Somalians including children, sought refuge in their neighbouring State Tanzania. This compromised the realisation of child rights, some of which are right to education and health.
Cultural issues are a challenge and a compromising factor in the implementation of the CRC, in relation to abolishment t of corporal punishment. Generally State Parties have found it easy to abolish corporal punishment on children in conflict with the law and in the school environment, but because of cultural and religious norms, I would like to believe, some States are finding it difficult to abolish corporal punishment in home settings.