The Children’s Parliament is a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of children, guiding the state’s policymakers towards a future where the rights and welfare of children are not just recognized, but actively championed.
The Children’s Parliament has achieved significant milestones in its 17 years of existence, notably proposing and advocating for changes in legislation that had positive impact on the lives of the children of Namibia. It has achieved a great understanding of the democratic process involved in making laws in the country, given children a platform to voice their concerns and champion their rights. Each session has had a remarkable impact on realizing the rights of children.
The Fourth Session of the Children’s Parliament took place in 2013 under the theme “Children’s Parliament – Ensuring that the voices of tomorrow’s leaders are heard”.
During these session children tabled motions that look to revisit the education policy to allow learners that fall pregnant during their education careers to be allowed to come back and complete their education upon delivery. The motion was passed successfully, and policy amendments followed suit to give effect to the voices of children. The most notable achievement was the increment of the grant to OVC by N$50.00.
The Fifth Session that took place in 2019 under the theme “Engaging young people in the legislative process” and focused on the challenges present to children, especially children with disabilities.The house’s main mission was to increase the disability grant for children and championed this through their motions. The motion was adopted by the house and adopted by government which resulted in the increment of the disability grant for children.
After four years’ interval, this year the National Assembly will once again be hosting the 6th Session of the Children’s Parliament, under the theme “Transforming Education in Namibia” from the 12-19 July 2024.