MALTA: 20th Anniversary of the CRC - Guginu's Tour

In order to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Office of the Commissioner for Children organized a large scale project named Guginu’s Tour. Guginu’s Tour was aimed at familiarising children and young people with the important rights granted to them under the UN Convention, in a way which is child-friendly and tailored for the children themselves. The Tour focused on five fundamental rights in particular: the right to an Education, the right to Health, the right to Play, the right to a Family, and the right to a Voice. In respect of children’s right to a voice, the name for the project in itself was proposed and chosen by a group of children, who had previously participated in the annual Rights 4U course and now form part of an advisory board for the Commissioner for Children.

The adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 was a significant step in the realisation of children’s rights, and is marked through World Children’s Day which is celebrated on the 20^th November of every year. It is a day whereby the welfare and happiness of the child is given distinct attention, through the promotion of the fundamental rights which are due to every child in the world. The date marks a significant milestone in the recognition of the rights of the child, and was given due significance by Malta through the ratification of the UN Convention in 1990.

Guginu’s Tour was a traveling interactive programme designed to teach children about their rights according to the UN Convention in a child-friendly manner. It took place over a period of two weeks from the 16^th November until the 1^st December 2009. The tour consisted of a large mobile trailer visiting one selected primary school per day during this period, as well as local councils on the weekend, in order to present an interactive educational programme to primary school children. Each interactive programme included a forum theatre performed by Curtain Raiser and based on these five rights, games, a video clip, and distribution of free educational materials and souvenirs. The interior of the trailer was designed in a vibrant and colorful manner, in order to depict the main rights being taught to children through this project.

The Commissioner for Children was in attendance during the programme, in order to directly communicate with the children about their rights as granted to them in the UN Convention.

Guginu’s Tour visited St. Gorg Preca College Floriana Primary, St. Clare College San Gwann Primary, St. Theresa College Lija Balzan Primary, St. Dorothy’s Primary School in Zebbug, St. Ignatius College Siggiewi Primary, St. Thomas Moore College Zejtun Primary, Maria Regina College Mellieha Primary, San Andrea School in Mgarr, St. Nicolas College Mgarr Primary, Gozo College Xewkija Primary, De La Salle College in Cottonera, and St. Benedict College Birzebbugia Primary. Aside from the primary schools which were visited during the week, the trailer will also visited Qormi local council on Saturday 21^st November, The Palace in Valletta on Sunday 22^nd November (as part of the World Children’s Day celebrations), Nadur Local Council on Saturday 28^th November, and Ta’ Qali National Park on Sunday 29^th November. All children were welcome to visit Guginu’s Tour on these occasions.

Guginu’s Tour was kindly sponsored by Attard Services Limited, Malta Dairy Product Ltd, Jokate Group of Co Ltd, Gozo Channel line, and Thomas Smith Insurance Broker Agency.