‘Children’s Parliament’ being launched in Sindh with Unicef’s support

With the support of the Reform Support Unit Sindh and Unicef, the Thar Education Alliance is launching a Children's Parliament to promote educational rights and bring out-of-school children back to school in Sindh.

Children from 30 districts of Sindh will participate in this initiative. In the Children’s Parliament, two children will be selected from each of the 29 districts, while six students will be chosen from the Sajawal district due to its low literacy rate. These representatives will serve as the voices of their respective districts in parliament.

To support the Children's Parliament, the Thar Education Alliance will establish an Advisory Council comprising representatives from prominent NGOs, civil society, and media, all dedicated to education, child rights, and advocacy. The Advisory Council's first introductory meeting was recently held at a private hotel in Karachi, where members from both government and private institutions provided suggestions regarding the creation of the Children's Parliament and the development of a code of conduct.

The Advisory Council meeting was chaired by the Sindh Human Rights Commission and the Thar Education Alliance Secretary for Advisory Council other member organizations and attended by the stakeholders from different organizations.

In this meeting, Partab Shivani, CEO of the Thar Education Alliance, briefed attendees about the responsibilities of the Advisory Council. Shivani emphasized that each member organization brings unique expertise, resources, and perspectives to support the Children's Parliament.

They agreed to provide guidance, technical support, and mentorship, drawing on their experiences in program implementation, advocacy campaigns, and policy development. The Advisory Council will engage collaboratively through regular meetings, workshops, and consultations, where representatives will participate in parliamentary sessions, offering insights, expertise, and feedback on key issues related to education and child rights.

The Advisory Council will also Support and facilitate capacity-building workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs to enhance the advocacy, leadership, and communication skills of young parliamentarians. Through evaluation and feedback mechanisms, the council will monitor and assess the performance and impact of the Children's Parliament, ensuring continued relevance and success in advocating for the right to education.

Shivani noted, "This initiative is an important step towards ensuring every child's right to education under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan. The Children's Parliament aims to make children aware of their educational rights and empower them to play an active role in shaping their futures and those of their peers."

Other Advisory Council members provided additional suggestions and advice on the selection of Parliament members, the code of conduct, and the expected achievements of the Children's Parliament.