GOVERNMENT’S performance in the area of child welfare and expansion in the awareness of the rights of women and children was commended by Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) country representative for Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. These sentiments were expressed recently as the international official joined a wide cross section of stakeholders in what he referred to as “Celebrating excellence, the participation of the children of Guyana in civil society,” at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel, where Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand formally launched four commemorative stamps, designed by children between the ages of 7 and 16, depicting four of the Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Guyana became the first country in the Caribbean region to produce postage stamps depicting the internationally recognized rights of children.
Further support and assistance were given by the Ministry of Education and teachers throughout the primary and secondary education system, as a nationwide competition was launched, resulting in 1057 children submitting artistic interpretations of four specifically identified children’s right: the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, the right to live with a family, and not remain in an institution, the right to be protected from drugs and the drug trade and the right not to witness domestic violence.
Dr. Braimoh recognized the significance of the undertaking in the context of what it means for children to design stamps, and to do so in relation to the convention on the rights of the child.
He noted that it was an indication of Government’s demonstration of the importance of the views of the nation’s children, through their participation in consultations and avenues of expression across the range of media, noting especially, local television programmes hosted by and catering to Guyana’s youth.
He also highlighted the enacting of important legislation, by the Administration, on advancing the interests of the child, child protection act and status of children, ensuring child friendly homes and access to education and encouraged the expansion of meaningful child participation to all parts of Guyana.
In an effort to expand participation of children and women in civil society, Dr. Braimoh extended the reassurance that UNICEF is committed to providing the best support to government and civil society in the interest of children, indicating that he is “looking forward to what the future holds for the children of Guyana, who have healthy interest, dedication and creativity.”
To the winners specifically, Lucas Jonas, Bibi Sarah Ali, Deborah DeCamp and Shamar Spencer, he issued a challenge, saying “You have done a great thing. What will you now do with the great thing you have accomplished? We at UNICEF are here to help you.”
The artistic entries were judged by staff of the Burrowes School of Art and a philatelic officer from GPOC, based on criteria that included an assessment of the clarity of the accompanying slogan, the adherence of the piece to the rules of the competition, the level of skill applied and the suitability of the artwork for reproduction.
Present for the historic occasion was Trevor Thomas, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bishop Juan Edghill, Chairman of the GPOC, Shirley Ferguson, Coordinator of the Child Rights Division within the Ministry and representatives of the Child Protection Agency, the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI), the United Nations, students, media and directors of the GPOC.