Children are calling on electoral candidates to commit to “championing their rights,” saying “we are not second-class citizens.”

Electoral candidates from all political shades are being urged to sign a declaration committing to champion children’s aspirations ahead of this month’s general election.

The Children’s Rights Observatory Malta (CROM), set up through an agreement between the University of Malta and the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, has said that it believes candidates should “openly declare their political intent to push children’s rights.”

They said that the declaration, which commits prospective MPs to work to create an inclusive safe space for child participation, takes on a deeper importance, as for the first time in Malta’s electoral history 16-year-olds will be able to cast their vote and make their voice heard.Wellbeing foundation chair Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said, “for too long, policymakers have given scant importance to how their decisions directly impacted children. We hope this declaration to become a Children’s Rights Champion will be pressure electoral candidates to recognise that promoting children’s rights is a move that benefits them and our children’s present and future.”

Ms Coleiro Preca, who is also Eurochild president, stressed that children should be able to “weigh in on decisions” that directly affected them, and the only way this could happen was if prospective MPs committed to listen to children’s aspirations when drafting new laws and policies.

Martina Olivia, 17, a member of the Children and Young Persons Council within the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, said children were not “second-class citizens.”

Ms Olivia added that “children’s proposals must be taken seriously if we want to ensure a brighter future where our society’s wellbeing is prioritised. This is why we need electoral candidates and people in power on board with us children, ready to adopt an inclusive vision to break the passive mindset on our island.”

CROM explained that “putting pressure on the candidates to make a declaration forms part of the action being taken by the children’s rights observatory, set up last year to identify gaps and priority areas in implementing children’s rights, advocating for change, and bringing together lived experiences, academic, interdisciplinary and cross-sector contributions to advance the implementation of these rights.”

The observatory serves as a watchdog for children’s rights and together with the university’s academics and the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, is intended to influence policymakers through further research and data.

Faculty dean Andrew Azzopardi said, “unless children are at the centre of our political, social, environmental and public decisions, we will be failing the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s society.”

Prof. Azzopardi also referred to the children’s manifesto, released in November, which represents the aspirations of Malta’s 20,000 children and lists 99 proposals that urge politicians to drive the necessary changes to make children feel heard, empowered and safe.

He pointed out that the hundredth goal of the manifesto is for politicians to adopt these proposals and include them in a national strategy for children, through the creation of a specific Department for the Rights of the Child at government level.

“This manifesto is an incisive document that delves deep into children’s very own aspirations for a better community, a greener environment, as well as improved health, wellbeing, education, diversity and inclusion. Let’s stop and listen to them,” Prof. Azzopardi said.

In the past days, electoral candidates received an invitation to sign a declaration to become a Children’s Rights Champion. Their commitment will be publicised on social media. Meanwhile, those interested can send an email to childrenshub.mfws@gov.mt or call 7950 8352.

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