Governments of Guyana and Suriname recommit to advancing Child Rights

By Crystal Stoll for UNICEF Guyana & Suriname

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Guyana, His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana signalled his government’s recommitment to the principles of the CRC and to advancing child rights in the country by signing a UNICEF Call-to-Action document on November 18, 2024 in Georgetown.

During his feature address, H.E. President Ali echoed several achievements in advancing child rights in Guyana over the past years.

He highlighted several pieces of legislation enacted that push towards the goal of fulfilling the mandate of the treaty. These include the Domestic Violence Act, the Family Violence Act, the Protection of the Child Act, the Juvenile Justice Act and the Adoption Act, to name a few.

President Ali stated that while the government has a responsibility to ensure the rights of children are realized, the responsibility to protect and safeguard those rights must be a collective effort.

Similarly in Paramaribo, His Excellency, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santoki, President of the Republic of Suriname, made a powerful statement in support of children’s rights, and pledged to pass the legislation for the establishment of a Child Ombuds Institute - a vital step in ensuring that every child has access to justice. The proposed legislation is currently in Parliament for discussion and approval.

Mr. Nicolas Pron, UNICEF Area Representative of Guyana and Suriname, commended both Presidents for their commitment to advancing child rights in the countries. 

The CRC@35 events reflected both the progress made and the work that still lies ahead. Mr. Pron expressed UNICEF’s recommitment to working jointly with key stakeholders to ensure that every child enjoys their rights.

“UNICEF has long been at the forefront of a collaborative effort, advocating for policies and programmes that prioritize children’s rights, and ensuring that these efforts are all grounded in a rights-based approach. We recommit to ensuring that every child in Guyana and Suriname, regardless of their race, religion or abilities, enjoys every right as stated in the CRC,” Mr. Pron said.

The high-level events saw participation of the Presidents, government ministers, members of the Diplomatic Community, Private Sector Stakeholders, members of the civil society organizations, youth volunteers and over 200 students in each country.

The CRC was adopted in 1989. Since then, 196 countries have signed on as parties to the convention, making it the most widely ratified UN convention.

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This story was first published by UNICEF Guyana & Suriname.