its commitment to the rights of children, in 1990 Mozambique attended the
World Summit for Children. During the summit, more than 159 countries
pledged to strengthen efforts aimed at ensuring the survival and protection of
children, and signed the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and
Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World
Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children.
284.Mozambique’s commitment to children has had positive results, despite the
collateral impact of the war and natural disasters, as seen in the high rates of
school attendance, the wide area covered by immunization programs and the
decline in infant mortality, among others.
285.Current evaluations of the situation of the child in Mozambique show that the
country has made inroads regarding the development of a legal framework
favorable to the implementation of the rights of children and the drafting of
various policy documents which directly impact on the promotion of an
environment conducive to the well-being of children.
286.There have been significant gains in assistance provided to pre-school children,
in sheltering, caring and integrating orphans and abandoned infants as well as
children in a difficult situation, and in support given by communities. There has
been an increase in the number of kindergartens, from 49 in 2000 to 197 in 2011,
and community schools from 479 to 860 during the same period. This has led to
an increase in child care assistance, from 25,600 in 2000 to 69,300 in 2010.
287. The government’s strategy for assisting children in difficult situation has
favored family and community reintegration, thereby preventing children from
being abandoned and strengthening the resources of families and communities
through specific income-generating programs and projects, and professional
training, community development, among others. Every year, about 280,000
children in difficult situation have been getting varied assistance at family and
community levels. This has ensured access to basic services. A total of 860 Child
Protection Community Committees have been providing assistance to children in
difficult situation.
288.With regard to children who have been separated from their families, efforts
have been made to trace and reunite families. Foster families take care of children
who cannot be reunited with their families, and as a last resort children are sent to
institutions. According to data from the Family Tracing and Reunion Program,
11,930 children who had been separated from their families for various reasons,
were reunited between 2000 and 2010.
289.There are 160 sheltering centres and 27 kindergartens in the country, most of
them operating on an open-air basis. Assistance, including educational and spare
time activities, is provided to 30,760 children in difficult situation.
290.Progress has also been made with the involvement of children in matters of
concern to them. This is done through the Youth Parliament and other venues
where decisions are made on matters of public interest. The Youth Parliament
Combined Report from the Republic of Mozambique to the ACHPR, 1999-2010
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