Defence for Children International (DCI-GHANA), an NGO, has organized a National Child Rights Award Competition in Kumasi as part of activities commemorating its 45th anniversary celebration in December.
The Child Rights Award Competition, through art work on ‘Justice for Children’ as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), is to provide a platform for children to express their ideas, opinions, views, hopes, and visions regarding justice for children through art work.
Headquartered in Switzerland, DCI is a Worldwide Movement for Children’s Rights founded in 1979 and replicated in some 30 countries across the world. It is celebrating 45 years of engagements in protecting and promoting the rights of children worldwide this year to coincide with the 35th and 5th anniversaries, respectively, of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.
Ms. Faustina Osei Prempeh, Programmes Manager at DCI-Ghana, explained that the award competition formed part of the DCI Global Movement’s 45th anniversary and was an opportunity to bring together children to also share their opinions on their rights as children in Ghana, mainly through art work and focusing on Justice for Children, to test how the children can express themselves on what is surrounding them and how they want to call for justice.
She said the theme for the events is ‘I Want Justice Now,’ and seven children who took part in the competition used art work either through digital or manual comics to demonstrate to the panel of judges what they think and feel about the justice system surrounding them.
Ms. Prempeh said the two children who emerged winners from the two categories would be contesting at the international level as part of activities marking the DCI anniversary celebration in December this year at Geneva in Switzerland.
DCI, the Programmes Manager said, would also be submitting a report to the UN specifically on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on several thematic areas focusing on non-discrimination, child participation, survival and development of the child, violence against children, education in Ghana, and justice for children under the UNCRC.
Madam Akosua Frema Frempong, Chief Editor, GBC, who chaired the programme advised the contestants to keep in mind that the art form, whether digital or manual for the competition, should focus on the theme, which is “Justice for Children.
From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey, Kumasi
