Street children policy almost ready, says Clarke
Street children policy almost ready, says Clarke
TANEISHA DAVIDSON, Observer staff reporter
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Children’s Advocate Mary Clarke receives a certificate of appreciation from Laban Roomes, president of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Kingston, at their monthly meeting at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Monday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
RECENTLY appointed children’s advocate Mary Clarke says an inter-sectoral committee is in the final stage of putting together a policy for street children policy, which it hopes the government will endorse by the end of the year.
Speaking on Monday at the weekly luncheon of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Kingston, Clarke said the policy, which is currently in its draft stage, will guide government ministries and agencies as to how to deal with matters pertaining to street children.
"It will also have a proposal for the constitutional mechanism for overall responsibility for street children and children in child labour," she told the gathering at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. "It is very broad-based and deals with issues of prevention, intervention, rehabilitation and re-integration, whether it is in the school system or wherever."
Among the organisations that have been working on the policy is the Child Development Agency (CDA), the ministry of labour as well as several non-governmental organisations such as Children First.
Meanwhile, Clarke emphasised that the Child Care and Protection Act stipulates that it is illegal for any parent or guardian to allow their child to beg or work on the street, and if found guilty the penalty is a fine of up to $250,000 or a maximum of three months at hard labour in prison.
In the meantime, the new children’s advocate said she would have to relinquish her position as member of the intersectoral committee that is currently working on the policy.
Clarke was appointed children’s advocate at the beginning of the year. She is responsible for investigating and representing cases of violation of children’s rights and various forms of crimes and abuses against the nation’s children. She will also serve as the watchdog for agencies and organisations which are responsible for the island’s children.
"As a watchdog for the children, I will have to be able to identify areas where the rights of children are being infringed on," she said, adding that her immediate objective would be to disseminate information about the role, functions and responsibility of the children’s advocate and the office of the children’s advocate. "I will be ensuring that the voices of the children are heard at all times."
In addition, Clarke said she is also currently working to facilitate public access to the office of the children’s advocate, which is temporarily located at the ministry of health, as well as establishing a system of protocol for dealing with complaints.
Her appointment is in accordance with the stipulations of the Child Care and Protection Act, which came into effect March 2004.
Among her other responsibilities are:
. Receiving and conducting investigations into complaints made by or on behalf of a child whose rights have been infringed by authorities, including those who are inmates and detainees of government institutions.
. Representing the children in court and bringing non-criminal court proceedings concerning the right or the best interest of the child.
.Reviewing laws relating to the rights of the child as well as service provided for children by the relevant authority.
. Giving advice and making recommendations to Parliament, ministries and the relevant authorities relating to the rights and best interest of the child.
