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The design and implementation of national, school-level and community-based policies and programmes that affect children’s lives should take their views and opinions into account.

This new policy-making approach is part of a recently approved national programme to implement the rights of children to participate in child-related issues for the 2016-2020 period.

It aims to improve children’s capacities to engage in matters that affect their lives in accordance with the law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

According to the programme, children must be consulted during the design of all child-related policies at the national, provincial and communal levels, and 90 percent of child-related decisions in schools and communities.

In order to successfully implement the programme, it is crucial to raise the public’s awareness of the significance of child participation in policy-making. Furthermore, the capacity of Government bodies, organisations and individuals to engage and work with children also needs to be improved.

In addition, support from the community and business sector is welcomed for the development of programmes that promote the participation of children.

The programme also encourages the establishment of international cooperation projects and hosting regional and global children’s forums and festivals.

Source: VNA