A Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF, Mr Eric Okrah, has said that recognizing children's rights does not mean that adults no longer have responsibility towards them.

He said it was incumbent on parents, politicians, teachers and other stakeholders helping to create an atmosphere that would empower children to continue to contribute their views on all relevant issues.

Mr Okrah said this in a speech on his behalf at the launch of the Easter School for Children organized by the Children's Rights International (CRI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Kumasi on Thursday.

The theme for the celebration is, "Looking for the Missing Child at 50".
Mr Okrah said UNICEF has seen the Easter School for children as one of an opportunity where children could be empowered to identify and fulfil their goals and initiatives.

"We believe that children have a body of experience and knowledge that is unique to their situation and may not necessarily share common perceptions with adults hence, listening to them can lead to good decisions and strengthening democracy in the country", he said.

Mr Kweku Appiah, the Executive Director of the (CRI), said this year's Easter School for Children would take place in a month's time at Tamale and would be attended by 197 participants from the Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Northern and the Upper East regions.

Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempemhene of Kumasi, said some children have taken to the streets due to broken homes and the extended family system.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), called on CRI to help produce open minded and responsible leaders through the Easter School.

He explained that by so doing, the children's naivety and ignorance would not be taken advantage of and exploited in child prostitution, child soldiers, and child labour among others.

Source: GNA