The Children’s Council 2011 Project Begins Enrollment Now
2011-06-27
Hong Kong, 27 June 2011 – The Children’s Council 2011 project is now opening for application for children and youth aged 12 to under 18 years. Applications from different ethnic groups and children with special needs are all welcome. The application will be closed on 7 July, 2011 (Thur). Selected applicants will go through a series of interactive training workshops, while those outstanding participants appointed as Child Councilors will get to present and discuss motions relating to children at the Children’s Council Meeting in late November 2011, to speak up for children in Hong Kong directly to government officials and legislators.
Since 2002, the Children’s Council project has been co-organised by Against Child Abuse, Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights and Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF under the HKSAR Government’s kind sponsorship and full support of Kids’ Dream, the first child-led organisation in Hong Kong. The project aims to arouse public awareness on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and provide channels for children to actively participate in the civil society in Hong Kong. Children will also be able to enrich their understanding of their own rights and responsibilities, and to express opinions on matters and government policies of their concern, hence actualise their right to participation. There is a maximum of 60 seats in the Children Council this year. The selected participants will be officially appointed as Child Councilors after studying the UNCRC and discussing child-related issues through interactive workshops, training camp and discussion sessions in the period of July to November. Child Councilors are allowed to step into the shoes of legislators by collecting views from the general public, discussing and preparing motions on issues relating to children’s rights as well as voicing their opinions to the government officials, Legislative Councilors, media and NGO representatives in the Children’s Council Meeting to be held in late November this year. The motions will also be submitted for government’s consideration.Application details of the Children’s Council 2011 project:
1. Applicants should be aged 12 to under 18 years (as on 26 November 2011). 2. Applications should be made on an individual basis. 3. Deadline for application is 5:00 p.m., 7 July 2011(Thur). 4. Applicants should submit a completed application form together with the “Child’s Voice” (both English and Chinese submissions are welcome) and “Parent’s Consent Form” by hand, by fax (3542-5709) or by mail to Against Child Abuse, 13/F, Corn Yan Centre, 3 Jupiter Street, North Point, Hong Kong (Attention to: “The Coordinating Committee for Children’s Council”). The application can also be submitted online at www.childrencouncil.org.hk.For more information about the project, please visit www.childrencouncil.org.hk
