THE annual report for the Rights of the Child Commission (ROC) for the year 2012 was yesterday presented by the Chairperson of the ROC to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

During his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, at Public Buildings congratulated the Commission for its work and invited and implored all Guyanese to applaud and lend support to the work of these commissions.
Trotman explained that the ROC was established as one in a group of “rights” commissions in 2001 and the goals of which are “to strengthen social justice and the rule of law.” He also stressed that these Commissions established by the Constitution are the Human Rights Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the Rights of the Child Commission and “of course the much anticipated Ethnic Relations Commission.”
According to The Speaker of the House, Article 212 says “that as soon as practicable at the end of each year the Commission shall submit to the National Assembly an annual report of the activities of the previous year and that report shall be tabled within 30 days thereafter.”
In closing, he emphasised that “though we are prorogued or suspended, the National Assembly, as an institution is still very much in existence and as the Speaker of this National Assembly, I am pleased to accept the report in keeping with the constitutional mandate.”
Aleema Nasir, Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission explained that it is the pleasure of the Commission to present the Annual Report for the year 2012 to the Speaker of the house. She explained that the report encapsulates the endeavours and achievements of the commission for the year 2012 in pursuit of the protection, education and empowerment of the children of Guyana.
“It is our anticipation that such reports may be able to provide an important briefing to our partners, the media and other stakeholders of the work done by the commission pursuant to its constitutional mandate,” Nasir said. She also explained that of special importance in this reporting period would be the launching of the Commission’s 2012-2016 strategic plan. “This is a landmark document which guided the crafting of the annual work plans in the specific period,” the chairperson related.
Meanwhile, Nasir explained that also in the report, 2012 saw the establishment of an engagement with the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). “The commission has worked with the management of this institution to ensure that the children who are placed in that alternative care setting know of their rights as set out,” she stressed. The commission, she noted, has worked closely with a number of other institutions such as the Red Cross Convalescent Home to ensure that the best practices and minimum standards are maintained.
The ROC has committed itself to work steadfastly with all stakeholders to craft a general code, whereby the rights and interests of all children would be safeguarded. “We implore all stakeholders to always act within the spirit and intent of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana as we feel that both documents sufficiently contemplate the interests and well-being of the children of Guyana,” Naris said as she concluded her remarks.