Children: A part of the democratic future
First-ever Azerbaijani Child Parliament opens By Sandra Iseman BAKU, Azerbaijan, 5 June 2007 - Eighty-five excited young people sat looking out from the large armchairs which are usually occupied by adult MPs in the Milli Majlis, the Parliament of Azerbaijan on 1 June 2007 when the first session of the first Child Parliament opened. Dressed in their best clothes, side by side with adult MPs, the young people, elected to represent their districts for a three-year term, already feel the weight of responsibility on their shoulders. Sessions will be held twice a year at the Milli Majlis. The youngsters’ first assignment is to make recommendations on the Parliament’s draft policy on Youth and Sport. The Child Parliament was formed on the basis of a Memorandum signed in April 2006 by the Parliament, Education Ministry of Education and UNICEF. Issues for the three-year term Newly-elected speaker to the children’s parliament, Taleh Aliyev, outlined the issues he wishes young deputies to address during their three-year term: “An end to violence against children, education for all, child-friendly schools and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.” Deputy Speaker, 14-year-old Farida Aliyeva, followed by saying: “We put our trust in you adults because we cannot solve all these problems ourselves. Please don’t forget that we are your future.” “I challenge you to raise issues regarding child rights: the right to quality education, right to participation, right to protection against violence” - UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan, Hanaa Singer “Your presence here today is an honour to you, but also you carry a responsibility to make sure that the voices of the children who elected you are heard. I challenge you to raise issues regarding child rights: the right to quality education, right to participation, right to protection against violence” said UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan, Hanaa Singer. “You can support your government in eradicating poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality.”
“An historic moment” The Minister of Education also made opening remarks to the Child Parliament, describing the event as “an historic moment”. Other Members of Parliament also spoke and representatives from international organizations and foreign diplomats were in attendance. Cabbarli Sitaza, age 16, spoke of her hope for the new Child Parliament: “I believe if we work very hard we can do anything and can help improve life for the children and people of Azerbaijan.” The young deputies will now go back to their communities and discuss the emerging issues of concern with their peers. Next time they will meet will be during a summer camp, where they will be joined by adult MPs to discuss, brainstorm and better articulate issues that they would like to raise during autumn session of the Parliament. Strengthening young people’s participation The Child Parliament is one of the important initiatives by carried out by UNICEF in Azerbaijan, in partnership with the National Parliament and Government of Azerbaijan to strengthen young people’s participation in their schools, communities and in national policy-making. It builds upon work conducted in previous years, particularly the inclusion of youth participation in the designing and monitoring of the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Azerbaijan 2006-2015.
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