Myanmar Elections 2015 – Let’s vote for one clear winner: CHILDREN

Yangon 28th August 2015: Dynamic performances and pop music greeted the two hundred participants at the upbeat forum “Let’s vote for one clear winner: Children” which took place in Yangon on Friday 28 August.

 

With 9 days to go before political parties depart on their campaigning trail, children called for politicians to adopt a winning strategy: prioritizing children.
 

“I’m really excited to have this chance to speak directly to politicians from around the country. They seem very interested in what we have to say and I hope they will work hard and make good decisions to improve the lives of children in our country,” said Chaw Hnin Pwint from Shwe Pyi Thar, Yangon.

 

UNICEF and the National Children Rights Working Group, a coalition of over 50 NGOs, with support of the Union Election Commission, organized this ground-breaking interactive event bringing fifty children between the ages of 12 and 17 to chat face-to-face with candidates from the 90 registered political parties.

 

Weeks of practice came to fruition as the children briefed the political candidates on issues of key importance to children, including health, education, drugs, child labour and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and law enforcement.

 

As the children articulated their wishes and needs in rotating chat sessions, politicians took notes on new initiatives for their political campaigns, which kick off next week. The Wall of Commitment to children was covered in signed handprints by the end of the forum.

UNICEF Representative Bertrand Bainvel urged candidates, “Putting children at the top of the political agenda is good for political parties, good for voters, good for children, and good for the country.  It is a clear winning strategy.”

The forum brought together more than 70 representatives from political parties, 50 NGOs and 50 children ©UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

Through drama performance children showed politicians some of the problems experienced by children – such as working on the streets ©UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

Children briefed the political candidates on issues of key importance to them: health, education, drugs, child labour and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and law enforcement

©UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

Zin Zin Mar made the case for more attention to children's needs

©UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Virginia Henderson

The Wall of Commitment to children was covered in signed handprints by the end of the forum ©UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame