By Ibrahim S. Bangura
In commemoration of World Children’s Day, United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with parliamentarians on Monday, November 21, 2022, lit the Parliament Building at Tower Hill with UNICEF’s iconic cyan as a symbolic expression of support for child rights.
The Cyan Blue which was lit by Hon. Abass Chernor, the Speaker of Parliament, and other dignitaries, changed the outside lights at the parliament building with blue bulbs.
In 2019, the iconic Cotton Tree in Freetown was also lit blue by UNICEF as a symbolic expression of support for child rights.
According to UNICEF, in Sierra Leone, by incorporating their iconic Cyan Blue to Parliament Building demonstrated Parliament’s commitment and recognition of their roles in promoting and protecting children’s rights.
On behalf of parliament, Hon.Bundu said that they were much honored to be recognized by UNICEF, saying that, with the honor bestowed upon them, they would at all cost promote and protect children’s rights. He said, “I extend our warmest gratitude to UNICEF for the recognition that is bestowed upon us. Parliament is stand ready, able and willing to continue to play their part to make sure that the rights of children are not just written on paper but actualized and enforced.”
He urges the members of parliament presented to take oath by signing pledge on behalf of the parliament to protecting the rights of the children in the nation. He said, “On behalf of the parliament, we welcome and thank you, UNICEF for choosing us as your host for this special occasion. Be rest assured that we shall continue to discharge our responsibilities to the satisfaction of all.”
According to Dr.Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF country representative, for a better tomorrow of any nation, children needed to be prepared today.
He said since they were approved by the government of Sierra Leone in 1991, they had provided active supports to children in health and sanitation, nutrition, maternal care, water, education etc. “If we do not take care of our children today, tomorrow, our nations will be affected. It is in that regard I want say that inasmuch as we have made a huge progress in protecting the child rights, a lot of works still remain to be done in children’s health, education, protection of their rights and many more. So, we need a lot of legislative partners for those works to be accomplished. UNICEF remains a very strong partner,” he said.
Mahmud Barrie, president of Children Forum Network (CFN), thanked UNICEF and the government of Sierra Leone for promoting and protecting their rights as children. He said that they are grateful to the partners for changing the narrative of children in Sierra Leone. “Having changed our narratives as children, we still want to appeal that children have the right to participation, and that can only be done by establishing the children’s parliament. This cannot be another arm of government, but a platform where children can come together across the country and make strong recommendations to policy makers therefore looking into those recommendations. Children of this nation are so much passionate about this,” Barrie concluded.