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Press statement on the Day of the African Child
National Youth Development Trust
June 15, 2012

National Youth Development Trust joins the continent in commemorating the 22nd Day of the African Child under the theme The rights of children with disabilities: The duty to protect promote and fulfill. This particular theme comes within the context of a number of international conventions that have been ratified by states to protect and uplift children with disabilities, chief amongst these conventions are Convention on the rights of the child (CRC) in 1989, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in 1999. The African Youth Charter in 2006 also contains provisions of youths with disabilities.

This particular theme comes within the backdrop of a number of cases of people living with disabilities being excluded and discriminated from policy and developmental issues in Zimbabwe. At the same time the government has not effectively curbed preventable diseases such as meningitis, polio and cerebral malaria as well as offering adequate prenatal and neo natal healthcare services to every child even in the remote areas. Also spats of violence in the country have contributed to disability cases in Zimbabwe. Such cases of violence have been noted in almost each and every election where parties clash for political space. Disturbing enough in this case has been the fact that youths are coerced to engage in cases of violence and similarly there are the ones that end up disabled. The state agents in all this have acted in a partisan manner when dealing such cases. Additionally, violence has been state sponsored as evidenced by the case of Gukurahundi, which affected an estimated 20 000 citizens and somehow contributed to disability cases.

As the African continent commemorates this particular day NYDT implores all stakeholders including the government to act in accordance to the specific objectives of the day that is:

• To raise awareness about the rights, capabilities and potential of children with disabilities who are particularly vulnerable to marginalization and violence.
• To facilitate a clear understanding of the practical implications of the different duties arising from signature and / or ratification of regional and international human rights instruments.
• To strongly recommend the review of legislative and policy framework at national level to address discrimination against children with disabilities and to ensure effective inclusion of these children in all areas of society.
• To consider effective strategies for prevention of disability in childhood.

In line with these objectives NYDT underlines that it is the role of each individual, organisation or institutions to ensure that children with disabilities are not discriminated against. Also, the government should promote a viable health sector that will ensure that preventable diseases are curbed and all children have basic health care facilities. Above all the government should address the past cases of violence and create necessary platform that will ensure violence in Zimbabwe is curtailed. Zimbabwe therefore as a signatory to these and other regional and international instruments, should strive to promote a peaceful environment that will ensure sustainable development to all children, youths and women equally.

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