27 children from the central division have gathered at the Child Rights Situational Analysis (CRSA) Children’s Forum that is being held on 20 and 21 December 2018.
The Forum has brought together children who are members of Save the Children Fiji’s ‘Kids Link Fiji’,’Child Centered Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR) clubs’, children from Reproductive and Family Health Association Clubs and the Girls Program under the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement.
Children attending the Forum are deliberating on the results of the Child Rights Situational Analysis conducted by Save the Children Fiji. The CRSA provides valuable insights on children’s rights to important services such as education and health. The Forum is an important platform for children to provide their views on the findings of the CRSA and inform Save the Children’s program priority focus areas for the next five years.
In addition, for the CRSA process, children from Kids Link Fiji were trained and supported to conduct interviews with children in the West, North and Central division. Children’s views from as far as Kia Island and Yasawas have been included in the CRSA. Initial findings from the CRSA is presented to the children at the Forum and they will reflect on these findings to address child rights violations in Fiji. Findings in the CRSA indicate bullying as a major issue faced by children and that girls and boys and children with disabilities are treated unequally. Children will meet with civil society and social welfare representatives on the second day of the Forum to present key actions that stakeholders must champion to improve children’s rights and rights-based violations in Fiji.
Save the Children Fiji Programs Manager, Shairana Ali encouraged the children to speak up on issues affecting them as it is important to hear what children have to say before any decision or action is taken concerning their well-being and welfare.
The Forum is organized by Save the Children Fiji through the support of the Canada Fund and is taking place at the De Vos on the Park Conference Room in Suva Fiji.