We must ensure voice of HK's future is heard
A celebration was held last Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child being passed by the UN General Assembly.
This important piece of legislation was extended to Hong Kong in 1994. At that time, a children's forum was organised to explain to youngsters, and others, what the convention meant and how it might affect them in Hong Kong.
It is interesting to note what the results of the forum, and of the application of the convention to Hong Kong, have been.
In many ways, such as in education, health and housing, the lot of most of our children has improved. There is now a vehicle called the Children's Council to allow children to express their ideas. There is also an Alliance for Children's Commission comprising all the non-governmental organisations that have the interests of children at heart.
In 2007, there was even a motion passed in the Legislative Council on the subject of children's rights. But what still does not exist is a commissioner for children - someone who will put across the child's point of view when policy is being decided, someone who has 'a clear mandate to monitor children's rights', to quote the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
As Reidar Hjermann, the children's ombudsman for Norway, said on his recent visit to the University of Hong Kong's masters programme in arbitration, surely we all want our children to grow up safe and happy.
