UNICEF launches campaign for born-free generation

WINDHOEK - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) last Thursday launched the Listen Loud campaign for the “born-free” generation so that young Namibians can contribute to the process of shaping the new Parliament.

The campaign, which is held in partnership with the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) will run for five weeks and commenced this week. According to a statement issued by UNICEF's communications specialist Juditha Matjila, November 2009 is significant for children and young people in Namibia as the third Presidential and Parliamentary elections are coinciding with the 20th birthday of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to be celebrated during the whole of November.

“We aim to capture the voices and the perspectives of children and young people regarding the issues that affect their lives today and tomorrow,” Matjila said.

She said this will be done through a new technology called Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, which allows a caller to make toll-free calls, listen to instructions in the languages of one's choice and choose the opinion that is closest to her/his view. At the end of the call, they can also send a short messaging service (SMS) with additional opinion, and those who participate stand a chance to win a prize based on a lottery.

These opinions, Matjila explained, will be documented and presented to the Children's Parliament in 2010 where young people themselves will discuss these topics, and make recommendations to parliamentarians for consideration. With the inception of the new Parliament, these recommendations may feature from the starting point for appropriate guidelines and action in favour of children and young people, reflecting issuesthat affect their wellbeing.

She said based on the fundamental rights enshrined in the CRC and the areas of focus for the Government of Namibia and UNICEF Namibia in co-operation, issues such as education, HIV/AIDS, health/nutrition, child protection and “Your Future”, which includes issues of employment, participation and environment, have been highlighted as the most pressing themes for young Namibians.