Selection of Child Representatives

I attended a group discussion on forming the pro-teem committee leading to the formation of a Child Council for PJ last Wednesday night. The meeting was to to brainstorm on the purpose, objectives, terms of reference, code of conduct and initiation programmes of the proposed committee. While the meeting reached consensus on the above, we have to spend some time on the selection of the committee members.

While everyone agreed that priority is given to the children aged 15-17 years old whom have shown commitment and interest during the recent concluded Child Friendly City Forum, we were also concerned about issue of exclusivity. Selected children should be representing young adult from different walk of life, ethnic, socio-economic, culture and education background and even geographical area or else their discussion and plan of actions might have been confining to certain scope of aspects relating to children. Under the Convention for Rights of Child, 4 major components, namely survival, protection, development and participation have been outlined. The component of survival might have been neglected if the children are coming from well to do family. Similarly, aspect of participation might not have been given thorough consideration if the children have not been exposed to challenges of good governance and democracy.

Hence, having a fair and holistic selection without a clear criteria and sufficient announcement calling for volunteering children is touch. We have, however agreed to give it a try knowing that it is worth to be inclusive and offering opportunity to every eligible, and more importantly committed children in Petaling Jaya