Manifesto for Children: Poverty and Social Exclusion
- Manifesto for Children: Children in Conflict with the Law
- Public Seminar on Gozitan Childrens Issues
- Manifesto for Children: Children and the Law
- Manifesto for Children public discussion on work
- Platform for Children Workshop on Poverty and Social Exclusion
- The impact of the environment on our children
- School visits to promote website launch of the Commisioner for Children
- Launch of the Official Website of the Commissioner for Children
- How culture and the arts can be made accessible to children in an enjoyable way
- The Office of the Commissioner for Children to discuss the education system in Malta
- Programme for Manifesto for Children Seminar
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- The Commissioner for Children holds a Mascot competition for the children of Malta and Gozo
- Increasing the awareness of children’s rights
- Inappropriate TV content – The Commissioner for Children
What has been the excitement building up within the Office of the Commissioner for Children? In view of the 2008 general elections, the Office undertook a major project in 2007 and carried out extensive research to identify the present needs of children in Malta. The Manifesto project involved consultation with a wide range of professionals aiming to improve children’s rights in crucial areas including Family, Justice, Education, Health, Work, Sport and Culture and the Environment. Empowering children to express their views and opinions was a recurring principle emerging in all areas.
Owing to the wealth of information collected in the project, it was felt vital to follow up the Manifesto with a series of public discussions. The first session on Poverty and Social Exclusion, will be held on 21st May 2008, from 17.30 until 19.30 hours at the Office of the Commissioner for Children, 469, St. Joseph High Road, Santa Venera. Following a 15 minute presentation by chairperson Mrs.Charlene Mizzi the floor will be open for a general discussion.
Central to the debate will be questions that ask how many children in Malta experience poverty in Malta today? How does social exclusion affect children? Does the labelling of very challenging behaviour, asylum seekers’ children and unaccompanied minors, disabled children, children suffering from a mental illness, drug users and victims of domestic violence stigmatise children? Is there consensus on the need to provide adequate safeguards to all children experiencing social exclusion and establish a National Policy on Looked After Children?
This is a unique opportunity for children, authorities, NGOs, and the public to voice their opinions with and on behalf of children. We aim to share experiences and make recommendations on children’s rights in Poverty and Social Exclusion. Everyone is welcome. For more information please contact the Office of the Child Commissioner on 21485180 or via email cfc@gov.mt
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Having read the work published by the said Commision, I think that one should acknowledge the effort done by the Children’s Commission so as to highlight the rights and protection of our children. The study also acknowledges that much is left to be done in this regard.
The section on children’s services in Gozo is quite shocking especially for vulnerable children due to the lack of basic services for children in our region such as the lack of child-friendly services at the Law Courts, the establishment of Guardian ad Litem, lack of training in Fostering in Gozo…and the list goes on.
The need of professional training in Fostering in gozo is now even more urgent than ever especially after the scandals at Lourdes Home – it seems that this institution is in the verge of closing down.
It is true that children cannot vote today; but they deserve to be taken seriously since they are the generation of tomorrow. Gozitan children should at least be in par with their fellow Maltese.
I hope that one of the public discussions will be held on Gozo.
Victor Galea