ing on entrepreneurship, management among others. The ministry is hoping to establish a national youth empowerment fund as they are assiduously working on projects that will target the educated, the uneducated and a productive engagement of the youth across the country. 3.21. Launching of the National Youth Development Programme (2014-2018) marks another milestone action in the Government’s commitment to empowering the youth. “This document is the Blue Print for Youth Development in the country; it is the guideline for deepening youth integration in our Agenda for Prosperity; it is the blueprint for the development of the most energetic, the most creative and most dedicated section of our society,” the President emphasized. 3.22. Establishment of the National Commission for Children, created in 2015 to achieve its mandate and set the standards and relevance of the commission to the people of Sierra Leone. The commission is charged with the responsibility monitoring and coordinating implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and part three of the Children’s Act, improving the condition or welfare of the children of Sierra Leone as well as advising government on policies that are compatible to the CRC. Addressing members of the commission, President Ernest Bai Koroma said: in addition to the commission’s mandate, they must ensure they define their path in the implementation of their mandate and a great responsibility to affect what is contained in the United Nations Charter, the Child Rights Act and other relevant legislations in protecting and promoting the rights of the child. He urged the commission to stay engage in advocating on child labour, abuse and child marriage, and informed the commission that the future of the country depends on the children of the nation.“How we nurture them, how we educate them, allowing them to have a healthy environment and inculcate values in them that will be useful to them tomorrow is crucial,” he stated. He admonished them to work very hard in implementing the commission’s programmes and activities while assuring them of government’s support. “This is a commission that has to succeed because the future of this country depends on the effectiveness of this commission,” he emphasized. The president described children as the security of the country and looked forward to engaging other minAPRM Sierra Leone | Annual Progress Report istries to give the required support. He furthered that as the country moves forward with the implementation of transformative policies; the government has to guarantee sustainability by ensuring that children are prepared sufficiently. The Commission also pledged to use all available potentials to ensure the promotion and protection of children’s rights in the country. He said they are working on monitoring the CRC and support evidence based policies aimed at the improvement of children’s rights across the country. He pointed out that the commission has commenced effective advocacy on child labour, child marriage and child abuse. The Government has shown its commitment to improve the situation of the family and the wellbeing of individuals by formulating policies to protect the survival and development of children especially. The following policies have since been enacted in to law. Table 4: Laws Protecting Child Rights and Related Issues Policy Year / Time frame a) Anti-Trafficking Act 2005 b) Child Rights Act 2007 c) Adoption Act Under review d) Labour Laws Series e) National Disability Act 2012 3.23 Establishment of Institutions - the Government also established institutions to provide oversight and direction regarding the needs of the family and the wellbeing of individuals and societies. Foremost amongst these entities are: • Sierra Leone Police, Family Support Unit (FSU) established in 2003 • Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs • Human Rights Commission – established in 2004 • Interim Care Centers • National Disability Commission – 2013 • Children’s Commission - 2015 • 3.24 Creating Educational Opportunities- Govern- 33