16-year-old Lindener to represent Guyana in Panama

As UNICEF prepares to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, it has partnered with the Committee on the Rights of the Child to conduct national and regional consultations aimed at developing a General Comment on children’s rights to access justice and effective remedies. This initiative seeks to gather insights from children, adolescents, and various stakeholders across multiple countries.

A General Comment serves as an interpretive document that provides guidance on the provisions of international human rights treaties, helping States Parties implement the CRC and its Optional Protocols effectively.

Over the past week, UNICEF Guyana, in collaboration with its partners, has facilitated focus group interviews involving 56 children and adolescents from Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine, and Ten. Participants included children with disabilities, students from the Hinterland Student Dormitory, and youths at the Juvenile Holding Centre.

To further engage stakeholders, national consultations have been initiated via online questionnaires to gather experiences, concerns, and recommendations regarding access to justice. These consultations are ongoing and are designed to ensure that every child can access justice and obtain effective remedies for rights violations.

Dr. Loria-Mae Heywood, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Guyana and Suriname, expressed satisfaction with the focus group interviews, noting that many participants demonstrated an awareness of their rights under the CRC. However, she highlighted that some children were unaware of the local institutions and means through which they could seek justice. “Through the consultation exercise, children and adolescents were provided with more comprehensive information on their rights and responsibilities, and the different avenues through which they could get support if needed,” Dr. Heywood stated.

Among the interviewed participants, 16-year-old Akwain Bowen from Linden, Region Ten, was selected to represent Guyana at a regional event on child rights hosted by UNICEF’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office in Panama. Bowen described the national consultation as both child-friendly and educational, stating, “It gave me extra and more detailed information on topics that I had researched beforehand. Overall, the consultation was very informative and helpful in understanding children’s rights.”

He added, “Being chosen to represent Guyana is a great honour. It makes me proud to share our unique viewpoints with the rest of the globe and I have a strong sense of obligation to represent my country to the best of my abilities. It is an opportunity to have a significant impact on individuals and contribute to a better change.”

The regional event is scheduled for November 18-20, 2024, and will feature participation from judges, ombudspersons, and young advocates from various countries involved in the national consultations.

Despite the significant number of children whose rights are violated daily, only a small fraction seeks redress, with even fewer receiving effective remedies. Many children are unaware of their rights or the processes to address violations, and even those who are aware often hesitate to speak up due to fear of punishment or exclusion.