By Wezi Tjaronda WINDHOEK History is in the making for Namibian children whose Children’s Parliament will be launched next week . Two representatives of children in each of the 13 regions of Namibia will sit for the first week-long session of the Children’s Parliament in the National Assembly from May 13 to 18. The primary function of the Children’s Parliament will be to lobby the government and its stakeholders in the law-making process to speed up policies that improve the rights and welfare of children and young persons, in line with international conventions and the constitution. In essence, it is the mouthpiece of children and young persons. Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was adopted in 1989 and opened for signatures in 1990 and to which Namibia is a signatory, says that children have the right to express their opinion. “State parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. “For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law,” it says. A media release from the Speaker’s Office on Wednesday said the speaker has contemplated the formation of the parliament based on how people think and deepening the understanding of the practices of democratic institutions, particularly parliamentary democracy. Noting that there is widespread apathy among the younger generation towards political participation and parliamentary democracy, the National Assembly, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education has chosen 26 learners to create a developing society with a high sense of responsibility of which children and young persons are part. The statement says parliaments are known for their basic functions of law making and oversight but the children’s parliament will, among others, deliberate and debate on matters placed before it, act as a mouthpiece of children and young persons, and serve as an introduction to the work-research carried to surrounding children and young people on the continent. Some of the issues facing Namibian children today include orphanhood due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, stunting as a result of malnutrition, unemployment and physical and sexual violence. The official opening of the Children’s Parliament is scheduled for Monday, May 14 in the Chamber of the National Assembly at 14h30. Ndahafa Kaukungua of Parliament told New Era yesterday this was the trial phase of the Children’s Parliament, which will proceed depending on the availability of resources. “This will help us learn how we will proceed,” she said. The Children’s Parliament will be addressed by a number of ministers and officials from Unicef and the City of Windhoek.