National Children’s Day and Youth Day: planning

Meeting report

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS.
27 May 2005
NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY AND YOUTH DAY: PLANNING

Chairperson: Ms Newhoudt-Drunchen (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Parliament Information/Research Services Report on possible themes for Children and Youth Days
Committee Secretary Report on possible themes for Children and Youth Days
Concept framework for International Children’s Day (Available on request)
Parliament Programme for International Children’s Day (Available on request)

SUMMARY
Members met to discuss planning arrangements for the two scheduled youth-orientated events linked to International Children’s Day on 1 June and Youth Day on 14 June. The Chairperson recounted the latest developments and informed Members of certain obstacles that had arisen. Members agreed to attempt to alter the starting time of the debate in the National Assembly on 1 June to accommodate the programme. Various proposals were put forward by Members to facilitate the adjustment of the programme, and support for the two initiatives was expressed.

MINUTES
The Chairperson stated that the purpose of the meeting was to provide clarity on the arrangements for International Children’s Day and Youth Day. Relevant information had been circulated to Members including two research reports compiled by Parliamentary Research Services and the Committee Ssecretary.

The Committee Secretary would finalise the list of attending organisations before the end of the day. Parliament would cater for 120 children and the programme would start at 08h30. The Presiding Officers would not be present to welcome the children but the Chief Whips would replace them. The participating Ministers had been asked to reduce their briefings to ‘manageable lengths’ and to provide opportunity for questions from the children. Ministers would be allowed five minutes to discuss their respective department activities relating to children.

The Chairperson stated that the Committee Secretary would confirm the identity of the organisations invited to facilitate youth activities, such as painting and dancing. Lunch would be arranged by the Committee. The National Assembly debate was scheduled to begin at 15h00 that day although the programme indicated that the children would be present at 14h00. The programme planned for the children’s attendance in the gallery. An alternative would be to forego the National Assembly debate and rather attend the NCOP debate that would begin at 14h00. She asked Members to consider whether to split the group into NA and NCOP chambers. A drawback was the limited amount of seats within the NCOP that precluded the whole group from attending. She acknowledged a suggestion from the Acting Committee Secretary that the remainder of the group watch proceedings within the NCOP from a monitor in the Old Assembly Chamber. The National Assembly could not change the debate starting time.

Ms Kondlo (ANC) stated that a proposal to move the debate to 17h00 had not been feasible as the day would be too long for children. She asked whether the Chairperson could consult with the Presiding Officers and the ANC Chief Whip to move the NA debate to 14h00 to accommodate the programme. She asked whether an exception could be made on this particular day.

The Chairperson understood the motivation behind the proposal but reminded Members of the significance of the request that involved an alteration of the Parliamentary programme. This would the passing of a Motion to suspend Parliamentary Rules for one day.

Mr M Swathe (DA) concurred with the proposal to attempt a shifting in the NA debate to 14h00 that would accommodate the Children’s Day programme. He supporting attending the NCOP debate if the NA programme could not be changed.

The Chairperson agreed to meet with the Chief Whips and the Speaker’s Office on adjusting the NA debate start time, and would notify Members. This iniative failing, the alternative would be to accommodate half the children in the NCOP with the other half in the Old Assembly Chamber with a monitor. The arrangers would need to consider the scheduled time of departure for the children so that transport arrangements were not adversely affected.

Ms Kondlo asked for detail on the age groupings of the children involved as this could assist in planning.

The Chairperson replied that the ages of the children was not known, but older individuals would be participating in Youth Day. Children had been drawn from various geographical locations, including a balance between rural and urban communities. Children from shelters and orphanages would also be accommodated. Related NGOs would have displays set up and would interact with the children to disseminate pertinent information.

Ms Kondlo proposed that the participating Ministers be instructed to provide simple and relevant briefings focused on youth-related matters, to allow for more interaction and questions. The Chairperson concurred and stated that the Ministers would be reminded.

She continued that lunchtime would also provide an opportunity for interaction between MPs and the children. The media would be involved to facilitate wider coverage of the event. The formal programme for Youth Day on 14 June 2005 remained unchanged and would start at 14h00. The theme would be to "create youth employment and fight poverty". Certain community organisations would be involved such as the National Bursary Scheme to complement the programme and create awareness. Particular suggestions from Members on suitable activities for the day would still be entertained. She notified Members of a similar but unconnected event occurring in the Northern Cape that Members could attend.

She asked Members whether the Presidency’s Office of the Right of the Child, and the Youth Commission should be involved in the International Children’s Day and Youth Day activities. Their presence would contribute to the overall effectiveness of the actions. Members agreed to this.

The meeting was adjourned.