Office of Status of Children on National Children's Day and International Day for Disabled Persons: briefing

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JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS
19 September 2003
OFFICE OF STATUS OF CHILDREN ON NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY AND INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISABLED PERSONS: BRIEFING

Chairperson
: Ms N H Bogopane-Zulu (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Short Report on Progress for the International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December 2003 (Appendix 1)
Project Plan for International Day for Disabled Persons 2003 Submission (Appendix 2)
Office of Status of Children, National Children's Day Submission (e-mail [email protected] for document)

SUMMARY
The Committee was briefed on programme plans for National Children's Day and the International Day of Disabled Persons. The committee made inputs on issues such as selection criteria of participants, participation of parliament and the role of the committee concerning the Office of the Status of Children and the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons.

MINUTES
Office of the Status of Disabled Persons on National Children's Day

Ms Xoliswa Sibelo Director: Public Liaison Office of the Status of Children briefed the Committee on the preparations of National Children's Day. This event would be held on the first of Saturday of November 2003 as opposed to choosing a specific calendar date. This year would see the launch of the Children's Parliament (CP) over four days to enhance the ongoing ethos on the rights of children. The objective of the event was to help children understand democracy and their rights and responsibilities within the system. A conference style event would be held in Gauteng at Eskom Conference Centre.

Discussion
Ms H Bogopane-(Zulu ANC) explained that the NCOP members would not be present at the meeting as they had to attend a presentation by the Deputy President Jacob Zuma. She asked for a progress report on the Children's CD and National Anthem, as well the Office of Status of Children's (OSC) progress in familiarising children with National Anthem.

Ms Sibelo said unfortunately this had not been included within the current process but she assured the committee popularising the national anthem would receive due attention within the OSC's future agendas.

A committee member asked for clarity on the relationship between the OSC and the National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa (NPA). The member expressed concern that the OSC should not abdicate its responsibility.

Ms Sibelo said the NPA was part of the OSC and she served on the NPA secretariat.

A committee member stated that concerns were raised over the selection criteria of the previous three Children's Parliaments, but they still remained unchanged.

Ms Sibelo said the Provincial Programmes of Action (PPA) had been mandated to select children from various backgrounds including orphans and disabled children.

Ms Bogopane-Zulu suggested that Ms Sibelo should follow up the children's CD as the committee believed its compilation was nearly complete. A decision had been taken in June 2001 to include the children's national anthem in the NPA program.
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Ms Sibelo explained that there had been no hand over process from the suspended Director and the matter was currently before court. She was not sure where the funding had come from for the CD or who was responsible for its compilation. All relevant files were currently with the Auditor's office because of legal proceedings against the Director, she could not discuss the issue further as it was currently before court.

Ms L R Mbuyazi (IFP) expressed concern over the criteria used to select children to participate in the Children's Parliament as children from elite schools could be unfairly advantaged. She suggested the Children's Parliament be held in the Gauteng legislature or other Provincial structures to ensure a realistic experience.

Ms Sibelo said they co-operated with groups who had direct interaction with various communities to ensure a balanced representation of Children's Parliament participants.
She was unsure of the feasibility of using provincial legislatures but would investigate this option.

Ms Mbuyazi said the exhibitors appeared to be mostly commercial entities, and asked whether local people would be allowed to exhibit their work.

Ms Sibelo said there would be 22 exhibition stalls consisting of government, civil society and commercial entities.

Ms Mbuyazi said members of the Committee could possibly explain the functioning of parliamentary structures at the event, as they were not currently invited to participate in the Children's Parliament.

Ms Sibelo agreed and said all parliamentary structures would be invited.

Mr J Durand (NNP) asked whether discussions about the Nation's past would be offered in the Healing Garden. As adults who had not yet dealt with the wounds of the past could also benefit from such a process

Ms Sibelo said the Healing Garden would be a process of true healing.

Mr Durand asked about the minimum age of the children.

Ms Sibelo said the participating children ranged from nine to eighteen years of age and this included the facilitators.

Ms Bogopane-Zulu suggested that the OSC revisit the minimum age as a nine year old child was too young to be away from home for the required four days. Their age would also limit their ability to fully participate and focus on the discussion. The OSC should not exclude children from affluent background as the criteria used should reflect all sectors of society.
The OSC was encouraged to link with other structures and departments who were involved in similar activities.
The committee could only send five members to attend, as the event would be staged a week before voter registration for the National Elections.

Ms Sibelo agreed that the CP had to reflect the demographics of South Africa. She explained that all the children would be the same at the CP as they would be provided with t-shirts for each day so that there would be no difference amongst the children. There had just been a NPA strategic planning meeting where they agreed to involve other state departments in the event.

Project Plan for International Day for Disabled Persons 2003 Submission.
Ms R Ince presented the projected plan of events for 3 December 2003. She took the committee through the event plans and the stakeholders of the event. She said a Cabinet Minister was invited to the proceedings but he would only arrive at 3pm as a result of prior commitments. (See Appendix 2)

Discussion
Ms Bogopane-Zulu acknowledged that the Committee and Parliament in general had not been very supportive of the planning of the International Day for Disabled Persons. She assured the OSDP the committee would assist their steering committee with planning the event henceforth, and at least one committee member would permanently sit on the steering committee. The committee's Deputy Chairperson would fill this vacancy until the selection of a suitable candidate. She said the committee had a responsibility to assist in this process It was important to involve the wider community and not just disabled persons The Committee would inform the OSDP of their financial contribution to the event by October 2003 after proper consultations were made.

Mr Durand said Provincial Premiers should assist in highlighting the plight of disabled persons. He said disabled persons should be informed of issues that affected them, such as the recent promulgation of the Electoral Amendment Act.

Ms Mbuyazi said that the Chairperson had summarised her concerns very well. She agreed with the parliamentary debate on disabled persons as it would raise the consciousness of parliamentarians on disabled issues. She stressed that the OSDP should push the committee to ensure their constant involvement.

Ms Bogopane-Zulu committed to act as a liaison between the committee and the OSDP.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix 1
A short report on progress for the international Day of Disabled Persons
3
December 2003
I want to pledge my continuous commitment to all activities that has to do with the international Day of Disabled Persons (03/12/2003), however I am unable to be in Pretoria on the 15 September 2003 due to other pressing commitments.

Following the first meeting regarding the above subject held at the Union Building on the 01t September 2003 the Mpumalanga OSDP has managed to put together the following processes;

1.A comprehensive submission was sent to the Director General on the 02 September 2003 with regard to issues discussed at the Union Building also with specific proposals including the budget. The Director General directed the correspondence to the Chief Financial Officer for mobilization of financial resources taking into account that the OSDP did not budget to host a national event. In the same vain a presentation to the Senior Management of the Office of the Premier was made during the 08th September 2003.
2.A task team has been established to focus on the 03/12 activities specifically and will be meeting during next week to develop an activity plan.
3.A meeting was held with the Executive Mayor Jeri Ngomane to facilitate the participation of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality taking into account the fact that they will be host of the event. This meeting took place on the 09 September 2003. A pledge to assist in mobilizing financial resource and involving all people of Mpumalanga was made by the Executive Mayor.

Attached with this submission are copies of correspondences sent to the Director General and the Executive Mayor of Ehlanzeni District Municipality.

ROBERT MASAMBO
OFFICE ON THE STATUS OF DISABLED PERSONS
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Appendix 2
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE IDDP

1.The International Context
In 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons(1983 - 1992), the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons(resolution 47/3). The decade had been a period of raising awareness and enacting measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and to provide them with equal opportunities. Subsequently, the Assembly appealed to Member States to highlight the observance of the Day in order to further integrate people with disabilities into society(resolution 47/88).

A major focus of the Day is practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and to further their participation in social, economic and political life and development on the basis of equality.

The South African Context
South Africa will join the rest of the world in observing and celebrating this day in 2003. This celebration will seek to profile, expose and honour persons with disabilities who have made a positive contribution to the development and integration of disable people into our society and to reaffirm government's commitment and mandate to deliver essential services to persons with disabilities within the first decade of democracy.

The IDDP 2003 event will be held in Mpumalanga and coordinated by the national OSDP in collaboration with the provincial OSDP in Mpumalanga . This year's event will be organized in partnership with the Joint Monitoring Committee on the improvement of the quality of life of children, youth and people with disabilities and civil society organizations

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE 2003 IDDP
To celebrate disabled people
To celebrate disability and democracy
To highlight the issues of women abuse, human rights and HIV/AIDS
To enhance the active participation of people with disabilities in the 2004 elections

THEME
The South African theme for the IDDP 2003 will be celebrating Disability in our Decade of Democracy"

STAKE HOLDERS/ROLE PLAYERS
The OSDP has put together a team of role players who will plan and organize the event. These are:
The Joint Monitoring Committee on the improvement of the quality of life of children, youth and people with disabilities
Portfolio Committee of the office of the Premier(Mpumalanga)
Inter -Departermental Collaboration Committee on Disability (IDCCD)
National OSDP
Mpumalanga OSDP
Mpumalanga local organizing committee
Disability civil society organizations

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE PLAYERS
The JMC and the Portfolio Committee
Give support in terms of political intervention
Provide resources(Parliament and Legislature)
Act as strategic partners
Attend the event and execute tasks that will be allocated

National departments
Give support
Provide resources (parliament and legislature)
Facilitate exhibitions(pamphlets, posters, services etc)
Attend the event and execute tasks that will be allocated
Strategic(reference) planning

National OSDP
Facilitate the national organizing team
Coordinate the process(by ensuring the OSDP in other provinces participate and liaise with the IDCC and other stakeholders)
Administration of the Project
Monitoring and Evaluation
Co- ordinationg resource allocation
Attend the event and execute allocated tasks

Mpumalanga OSDP
Facilitate the local organizing team
Coordinate the process in the province
Administration of the project
Follow-up and monitoring
Implement resource allocation
Logistics and Event Management
Allocate tasks for the event
Implement the provincial fundraising campaign
Mobilize the community
Ensure the participation of the local government

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY'S PROGRAMME
The day's programme will include the formal proceedings, exhibitions and entertainment. The stalls will open between 08h30 - 10h20 and again between 12h30 - 15h00.

10h30 - 12h30 Formal Programme

12h30 - 13h30 Lunch

14h00 till late Entertainment

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