President Guebuza closes Child Parliament, looks to children as guarantors of country's future
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 3 August 2011 - After a session where the 114 delegates at the 3rd Child Parliament asked tough questions of their country's leaders, President Armando Guebuza responded and thanked the delegates for their work in his closing remarks. To an audience that included former President Joaquim Chissano, President of Parliament Veronica Macamo, Prime Minister Aires Ali, Members of Parliament, and various Government Ministers, the children raised questions about child labor (including about children working in the mines in Tete), child prostitution and violence, and asked what the Government is doing about these and related issues. President Guebuza emphasized the Government's commitment to creating an environment of encouragement, where children can learn and their curiosity be stimulated.
He spoke of the social aspects that need to be urgently addressed, such as improved sanitation, prevention of disease through vaccination campaigns and other efforts to protect children's health, expanded educational opportunities and establishment of mechanisms to protect children's well being. Speaking of children who are still hungry, homeless or victims of violence, the President called for solidarity with the person next to us and said that children are the country's treasure. He praised the child delegates for their participation and engagement and called them the guarantors of the country's future. For more information, please contact: Arild Drivdal, UNICEF Mozambique, tel. (+258) 21 481 100; email: maputo@unicef.org Gabriel Pereira, UNICEF Mozambique, tel. (+258) 21 481 100; email: maputo@unicef.org
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