Children Parliament

Presented byNeighbourhood Community Network

Children Parliament

Children's parliament is a joint venture to empower children in playing a leading role in their own development and the development of their communities while creating a strong base for their improved and meaningful participation at different levels

Process of NCP

• The members of NCPs consists of children aged between 6 and 18 in territorially organized forums of about 30 families each.

• Smaller group provides space for more interaction & equal opportunity.

• It ensures a strong, grassroots-based, inclusive, multi-tier, forum to:- respond to causes, issues and challenges related to

children in general - respond in terms of Action & Advocacy in particular

Process & Structure

Based on the needs of the area the different ministers are selected, starting with :

Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister

• Home Minister• Health Minister• Education Minister• Law Minister• Environment Minister• Culture, communication, sports, etc

Continue…

• The dynamics of organizing children as parliaments and as ministers of a particular territory has its own impact.

• The neighborhood parliaments, and neighborhood ministers are federated at various levels like the village, inter-village local governance (panchayat), sub-district, district and the State.

Stages of Children Parliament

• NCN arranges swearing-in ceremonies at the neighborhood level as additional impetus to get them commit themselves publicly

• Thus they take their roles seriously and support the community in development.

UN –San Marino Alexander Bodini Award

• The Tamilnadu–Pondicherry State Parliament of Children received the global UN –San Marino Alexander Bodini Award for the Best Child-led Organization for Child Rights Action, in the year 2009.

Children’s Initiative

•As a move for NCPs, we identified and promoted children with disabilities in the communities.

•Children with disabilities actively participate in the programmes, express their views, opinion, needs/concerns affecting their lives and identify solutions within their scope.

Inclusive Neighborhood Children Parliament

&educational development

Roles of Education Minister

• Encouraging neighborhood schools for inclusive education

• Work for the Development of children’s Extra curricular events

• Goal fixing• Time planning• Re-enrollment• Monitoring the children educational progress

Activities done by children parliamentarians

- Campaign for girls education-Education for Children with disability- Concern for dropouts- Ensuring tuition centers - Making school libraries function- Encouraging children to get good

marks in exams - Networking and organizing

exposures

Achievements

• Last year our CP ministers enrolled more than 18

children into schools

• In 5 districts Children argued with Panchayat leaders

and got village library for all children

• Scored good marks in higher education.

• Be a part with PTA meetings

Future Actions

- Proclaim Inclusive primary education through village Administration

- Organize Neighborhood Campaigns for Inclusive primary education

- Insist State and Central government for appointing specially equipped teachers in all schools

- Create awareness among parents regarding Inclusive primary education.

- Make all schools accessible for CWDs

Future Actions

-Pass resolutions for making CWDs happy

and enjoy the education with other

children

-Acceptance attitude should be maximized

-Advocate to ensure State and civil society

-Partnership in promoting inclusive

education.

Children’s InitiativeMeet Bharath.......... “After becoming member of children's

parliaments I learned about child rights and child protection, understood that I am not really impaired. My mind is all that matters to achieve in life not body. . .. I was touched, felt happy and healed in heart…” exclaims Bharath. Bharath is now the differently abled child minister.

Children’s InitiativePriyadarshini speaks... • Priyadarshini-14 hails from Veeranam of Salem district. Visually

impaired, this eighth standard student of Chevvarpettai government middle school has been a role model to many since her inception in neighbourhood children's parliament.

• “From the time I lost my sight I felt insecure and inferior. I

immersed myself in studies and confined to the four walls with my family to dodge from the society's throw of pity on me. However things are different with me after I became a member of neighbourhood parliaments of children…” says the serving differently abled child minister of Salem .

• A visually challenged girl put up her hand seeking permission to make an intervention at the special meeting to mark the World Women’s Day on March 8, 2013 at UN headquarters, New York. It was a special mammoth meeting with a galaxy of UN high-ups and delegates from all over the world being present.

• The moderator gave her the floor, but looked perplexed when the visually impaired girl had to be guided to reach the mike.

• She received the longest ovation that day. The moderator observed: “We have a very young activists for women’s causes.”

• The programme was telecast through UN web TV and the talk continues to be available on internet.

57th SESSION UN

Outcome of our activities

• CPs have been a Platform for children to address issues is established

• Children with disabilities (CWDs) are adequately represented in all neighbourhood children’s parliaments (NCPs)

• Local government considers appointment of children’s ombudspersons

• Youths/children play important role in mainstreaming disability/inclusion

Outcome of our activities

• Along with academic progress/student discipline, personal, civic, and

social responsibilities are developed in children at an early age • Education of Children with disabilities, especially girls with disability

improved

• Increased number of children with disabilities attending schools in all the districts

• Children’s parliament representatives attend the community grama sabha

• Policies and legislation related to children are strengthened and enacted

Learnings• NCP has been a platform for children with disabilities to

exercise equal rights, development of self and community.

• Regular interactions of children in-general has helped to involve & consequently to develop themselves as a responsible citizens and confident leaders.

• Networking with local government leaders, teachers, educational and other institutions, parents, community members to jointly bring this initiative as a movement has gained recognition and improved their level of confidence.

The way forward

To ensure that Children get equal opportunities for:– joyous interaction– multi-sided awareness and enrichment – civic participation– leadership growth– advocacy for rights– access to govt. and private schemes and benefits

The way forward

• The child parliamentarians eventually graduate to become youth parliaments and youth ministers and still later adult neighborhood parliaments and adult ministers.

• The very existence of accessible and well-connected forums meant new opportunities, scopes and challenges for the children with disabilities regarding inclusion and empowerment.

Conclusion

• The children’s parliament will serve as a model to foster leadership in children in strategic programme development, interventions and advocacy actions at local, state and regional levels enabling equal opportunity and participation of ALL children.

Children envisage to be part of: National Parliaments of children International Parliaments of children

& finally A world Parliament of children