DILI, 30 July 2020 (TATOLI)– The National Commissary of Children Right (NCCR), Dinorah Granadeiro said the NCCR has recorded 300 cases of child street vendors.
“Most children street vendors in Timor Leste are also studying, and 40% of these children are from Oé-Cusse Ambeno(RAEOA).” She said
She added that Timor-Leste had affirmed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the State must establish a commission to respond to this issue, find and implement a resolution.
The State has established the Commission for Children Right (CCR) under the Minister of Justice on 2009, with the continuation of 8th constitutional government, it is now under the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI).
Mr. Granadeiro explained that the CCR established four basic action plans for children which will be implemented by the Ministry of Education (ME), Ministry of Health (MS) Ministry of Justice (MJ) and MSSI.
“We have to monitor and ensure the Ministries are implementing resolves for the child worker issue,” she said.
The NCCR is currently working towards law against the child workers.
“When the draft is approved, we will have the basic laws related to working children, but for the moment we must continue to gather the data from these children because of the economic situation,” she said.
“If we want to combat child workers, we should have a secure mechanism. If we stop them from doing their work, we should see if their parents can support them every month and should ensure their family economy is successful and conclude whether this impacts their education” she said.
She also explains that this is still in progress, and it is not an easy task to get the child vendors off the streets as there needs to be joined contribution from all the relevant ministries.
“Once the draft is approved, we can implement, however until then every ministry should have the responsibilities to combat child workers,”
The Commissary said the State completely supports the right of the children, thus she added working and doing the street selling should not be their role; instead, these children should embrace their fundamental right to access the education.
“In regards to this, the state has provided free education for public schools and free healthcare, “she said
She also asks parents to put in the effort to fulfil the children needs as this is not the child’s responsibility.
Journalist: Osória Marques
Editor : Cancio Ximenes/Nick Kettle
Translation: Nelia Borges Rosario