Children to form national leadership committee

Children aged between 6 and 17 years across the country are set to hold elections of their representatives at national level, says a top official in the National Commission for Children. Over 500 children will be chosen to represent others at the national level.Zaina Nyiramatama, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Children (NCC) confirmed this yesterday in an exclusive interview with The New Times at the institution’s premises.This will be the first of its kind following the creation of the children’s forum in 2004.“The elections for children’s representatives will run from August16 to 22. The children will vote for their representatives at the village, cell, district and national levels,” she said.Every level of administration will be represented by five children who will form a leadership committee.Nyiramatama said that over Rwf 125 million has been earmarked towards the implementation of the whole programme of youth forums, election of leadership committees and sensitisation campaigns, among others.“This initiative is very important because it’s a channel through which children’s issues will be raised and addressed. These children are vulnerable in the society, we want their voices to be heard,” NCC Executive Secretary emphasised.The children will be able to nominate themselves for elections. Local leaders, parents and children have already been sensitised and given guidelines on how polls will be conducted.She said children with disabilities will also participate and be eligible to election. They will represent their peers’ interests and issues that concern them ranging from social, economic and security problems.Over 500 children will be elected to represent others at the national level.The leadership forum is part of the government’s agenda to include children in all issues that affect their lives. At a recent National Children’s Summit, they also resolved to include children living with disabilities.