Child Rights and Participation
Issue Child rights is still a new concept in Tajikistan. Though the country ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1993, children are generally unaware that they possess rights, as are parents and community leaders in general. According to traditional views widely accepted in Tajikistan, children do not have rights, and the course of children's lives should be decided on their behalf by others, including parents, families and the state. Child participation is likewise a new concept. Few people believe that a child can have a unique, individual voice and that children may be capable of participating in decision-making on issues that affect their lives. The opinions of children are not taken seriously. Action UNICEF is committed to facilitating the full development of children and young people and therefore to promoting the participation of children and young people in all aspects of national and community life. It is working in partnership with parents, teachers, heads of village organizations and other civil society organizations and policy makers to foster both the concept and the practice of participation. Since 2002, UNICEF has made great strides in encouraging children's participation through support for initiatives undertaken by children and young people within the framework of the UNICEF country programme. Impact Successful policy advocacy by UNICEF resulted in the creation of the Government's National Plan of Action on Children. Developed by the National Commission on Child Rights in 2001 and completed and signed by the president in 2003, the plan outlines key measures and objectives to serve as the main policy framework for the commitment of the Government to child rights, including the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The commission must now seek political support and budgetary appropriations to implement the plan. The child reference group has become one of UNICEF's most reliable and dynamic partners in promoting children's rights, particularly the right of participation. The group was formed in 2003 to ensure that children's views and opinions are reflected in national policy development and that the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is monitored. The group is raising awareness of the importance of child participation through the translation of government documents concerning children and their lives into a more child-accessible language, as well as the development of children's television programming and intensive training among children on their rights. More recently, members of the group have reviewed the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and suggested ways to promote child rights within the processes involved in the Government's strategy to reduce poverty. A network of children and young people has been created in three districts to promote the concept and practice of participation. Members of the network have used a child-to-child approach to conduct training on the Convention on the Rights of the Child among children and young people, produce a television programme on children's issues and participate in a policy forum. With UNICEF support, two television programmes and one radio programme about children and young people and managed by young people now serve as a platform for the expression of young people's views on issues that affect them. A youth television programme designed to engage young people's participation in society has also been set up by other non-governmental organizations. The media have also become a reliable partner in other ways. To enhance their capacity to deliver child-friendly reporting, UNICEF has supported the training of local television, radio and print journalists on the theme of media and children's rights. The training has been carried out in partnership with Internews, an international non-governmental organization that supports the development of independent media in the country. Subsequently, the media have been distributing information and raising public awareness on issues that affect the children of Tajikistan. The partnership with Internews has also led to free broadcast time for UNICEF programme messages on Asia Plus Radio, a leading media outlet in the country. The messages have focused on child survival, development, protection and HIV/AIDS. With timely technical assistance, UNICEF has undertaken an important role in advocating for a right-based approach in the social sector reform process, especially in the education and health sectors. Six child rights modules have been developed and are being used for the training of civil servants at the central and district levels. The priority will be given to training civil servants in the 15 districts that are the focus of UNICEF-assisted programmes in the 2005-2009 programme cycle. The modules will also eventually be integrated into the standard training programme of civil servants all over the country.
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