By Fostina Mkandawire
In a significant step toward enhancing child welfare, the National Children’s Commission has called on district officials to familiarize themselves with the Amended Children’s Act.
The call was made on Monday during an awareness meeting held in Salima, where Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Geoffrey Chimwala, emphasized the need for collaboration with local stakeholders to bridge existing knowledge gaps surrounding the Act.
“We cannot do this alone. We want them to support the work we do as a commission,” Chimwala said.
The meeting aimed to sensitize council officials and other district stakeholders on the Amended National Children’s Commission Act of 2022.
It also revealed a widespread lack of awareness about the Commission, which was established by an Act of Parliament in 2019 but only began operations in 2024.
Chimwala noted that several key concerns were raised during the discussions. One major issue was the one-year tenure of child commissioners, which many participants suggested should be extended to at least two years to ensure stability and continuity.
Civil Society Chairperson for Salima, Joseph Kandiyesa, welcomed the initiative, describing the Commission as a crucial body in the promotion of children’s rights.
“We were not aware of the Commission and its role. This meeting has opened our eyes to the importance of supporting children’s rights in our community,” he said.
Kandiyesa also highlighted the need for greater inclusion of children with disabilities in decision-making processes.
He further pointed out that the current child representation structures do not adequately reflect all areas of the district.
“We proposed the use of both Community and District Parliaments to ensure broader and more inclusive representation,” he said.
The National Children’s Commission has pledged to consider the recommendations as it reviews its operational guidelines and continues its mission to promote and protect children’s rights across Malawi.
