GBV summit | Children removed from programme

MIDRAND - The Children's Parliament says they have a right to be part of the discussions around gender-based violence.

Children were meant to voice their concerns about gender-based violence at the Presidential Summit but they were removed from the programme at the last minute.

The Teddy Bear Clinic says young people's voices are being deliberately ignored.

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The clinic's Shaheda Omar says children seem to be an afterthought.

"I came quite elated that this was the first time voices were going to be heard at the summit. Unfortunately we were let down, the children were let down at the last minute," she said.

"They weren't allowed to share their concerns and solutions. That was very disappointing.

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"Children seem to be an afterthought and this seems to have been the pattern from the previous summit to this summit."

Representatives of the Children's Parliament say that children should also be part of the conversation when it comes to seeking solutions to the GBV scourge.

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said citizens must hold the government accountable when it comes to making sure the National Strategic Plan works.