On the occasion of the commemoration of World Children’s Day, the Transitional Legislative Assembly in collaboration with UNICEF organized a plenary simulation with 200 children on Thursday, November 21, 2024, in the hemicycle. On the occasion, the child “deputies” questioned the government on the commitments made last year by the Head of State for the benefit of children.
The protection of children is close to the heart of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) and UNICEF. As part of the commemoration of World Children’s Day celebrated every November 20, the ALT with the support of UNICEF organized a plenary session in the hemicycle on November 21, 2024. On the occasion, out of 200 children expected, 155 responded to the plenary simulation, the agenda of which focused on six oral questions without debate.
These concerns are essentially related to the commitments made by the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, on November 20, 2023, during his interview with the children. It was a matter of three ministers providing answers to the questions of the “deputies of the day”. The Minister of Humanitarian Action and Solidarity, Nandy Somé, provided insight into the actions of her department in the fight against child marriage and child labor on mining sites.
Ms. Somé indicated that her ministry, in collaboration with that in charge of justice, has started a process of rereading the personal and family code, one of the innovations of which is the harmonization of the age of entry into the marriage at 18 for both the girl and the boy. In addition, the minister noted that her department regularly carries out activities to prevent and protect children against child marriage.
In this regard, Nandi Somé mentioned, among other things, the adoption of the national prevention strategy, the elimination of child marriage adopted on November 17, 2015 and its operational action plan and the enrollment and training of 130 000 vulnerable adolescents or adolescents at risk of child marriage. As for the issue of the fight against child labor on mining sites, Nandy Somé confided that her team organized awareness sessions on human trafficking, mobility and the worst forms of child labor which concerned more than 21,000 people.
She also highlighted the establishment of the animation of a cross-border network between Burkina and Ivory Coast since April 2023 for the protection of children in mobility situations and the establishment of 12 child protection networks. child in the regions.
The Minister of Health, Robert Kargougou, was questioned about free care for children under 5 years old and the promise of the Head of State concerning the construction of the mother-child hospital. He explained that since 2016 the government has mobilized 28 to 30 billion FCFA per year as part of free healthcare for children under 5 and pregnant women.
90 school complexes built in 2024
Mr. Kargougou specified that given the importance of this measure, the President of Faso decided to maintain and strengthen it. To ensure its sustainability, he maintained, his department has set up an electrical care sheet which helps avoid wasting resources. Also, he noted, the extension of the basket of care to radiotherapy for children under 5 years old with cancer, among others. In addition, the minister declared that the department supports the vaccination of children under 5 years old against malaria free of charge.
Regarding the construction of the mother-child hospital, the minister indicated that the feasibility studies have been completed and the special delegation from the commune of Bobo-Dioulasso has identified land where the hospital will be built. “Ten days ago we were in discussion with our partner and normally, during 2025, construction work on a 300-bed mother-child hospital will start,” he assured. According to the Minister of Health, the Head of State instructed his ministry to increase the reception capacity of the Charles-De-Gaule pediatric hospital, located in Ouagadougou for better patient care.
Free education and inclusive education are also the interests of children. The Minister of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, Boubakar Savadogo, representing his colleague from Basic Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages, maintained that several actions have been undertaken in connection with free education.
In this regard, he confided that 90 school complexes were built in 2024 at a cost of more than 47 million CFA francs. All these school complexes have been equipped with table-benches, cupboards and office furniture. The minister also specified that the construction of school infrastructure with equipment linked to free education in 2024 amounts to 4 billion 500 million CFA francs.
He also indicated that the government is making efforts to promote inclusive education by taking into account the needs of children living with disabilities. By way of example, he suggested that in 2024, a grant of 100 million FCFA was mobilized to support the retention and academic success of 5,000 students with specific needs. At the end of the plenary, the children followed a thirty-minute awareness-raising film on the fight against early marriage and drug abuse.
On the occasion, the president of the ALT, Ousmane Bougouma, provided them with advice. “You must follow the advice of your parents and teachers. You must also avoid bad company and exhibit exemplary behavior if you want to be leaders of tomorrow,” he maintained. The deputy representative of UNICEF Burkina Faso, James Mugaju, insisted on the fact that children must avoid bad company. He also appreciated the progress of the plenary.
“We witnessed a great parliamentary session,” he rejoiced.
Abdoulaye BALBONE