BATOUALA, gabon – In a delayed observance of the 35th International day of Children’s Rights, child protection advocates in Gabon’s Ogooué-Ivindo region engaged with parents in the Batouala area on December 7, 2024. The event, organized by the province’s child protection system, aimed to reinforce parents’ understanding of their children’s fundamental rights.
Discussions centered on crucial aspects of children’s well-being, including education, healthcare, social protection, security, identity, and housing. Stakeholders emphasized the responsibilities and obligations parents bear in ensuring their children’s rights are upheld.
Arsène Mvoughé Émane, chief of staff and representative of the provincial governor, highlighted the state’s role in safeguarding children’s rights. “The State is responsible for all legislative measures, administrative actions, and other necessary steps to ensure that the rights outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child are implemented,” he stated.He reminded attendees that the day commemorates the Convention on the rights of the Child, adopted by the united Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and ratified by Gabon on February 9, 1994.
Mathurin Nguyema, head of the department’s family service, underscored the meaning of the day in reaffirming the child’s inherent humanity and rights. “This Day reaffirms the right of the child, who is first and foremost a human being with rights and responsibilities,” Nguyema said, expressing satisfaction with the parents’ active participation and receptiveness to the message.
Ulrich Pendi Magnahou, vice-president of the Makokou court in the first instance, stressed the importance of identity, particularly a child’s name and its connection to their father.
## summary of the Article:
This article reports on an event held in Batouala, Gabon to celebrate the delayed observance of the 35th International Day of Children’s Rights. On December 7th, 2024, child protection advocates organized a meeting with parents in the Ogooué-Ivindo region to discuss the importance of understanding and upholding children’s rights.
The discussions focused on key areas related to children’s well-being, including:
* **Education:** Ensuring access to quality education for all children.
* **Healthcare:** Providing adequate healthcare and access to essential medical services.
* **Social Protection:** Implementing programs to protect children from poverty, exploitation, and abuse.
* **Security:** Creating a safe and secure surroundings for children to grow and thrive.
* **Identity:** Emphasizing the importance of children having a recognized identity and legal documentation.
* **Housing:** Ensuring access to safe and adequate housing for children and their families.
Arsène Mvoughé Émane, representing the provincial governor, underlined the state’s duty in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the child, ratified by Gabon on an unspecified date. The event served as a reminder of the UN’s adoption of the convention on November 20, 1989.
## Key takeaways:
* Gabon’s Ogooué-Ivindo region is actively engaging parents in promoting children’s rights.
* The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between parents, the state, and child protection advocates.
* The Convention on the Rights of the Child serves as a guiding framework for ensuring children’s well-being in Gabon.
