World Vision and other NGOs make an advocacy call at government meeting

Nay Pyi Taw, 15 September 2016 - In order to effectively address children’s issues and increase collaboration for the realization of child rights, the NGO Child Rights Working Group (NCRWG) in which World Vision is a member, paid an advocacy call to the Women and Children’s Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) in Nay Pyi Taw on 14h September 2016. 

Forty-seven members from the 19 local and international organizations came together as a group and presented to the committee in one voice. The issue raised with the committee was based on the 2012 Concluding Observations prepared by UN Child Rights Committee, which was reported to the government. 

The recommendation in the observation includes sufficient allocation of the budget, the establishment of a child rights unit under Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, endorsement of the child law which is in line with CRC and the national laws, disclosing the Citizen Budget in a way which the public can easily understand, and allocation of 20% of the national budget for education.  

“This is a good meeting because we need CSOs support in our future work. I believe that the government will be able to endorse the child law and women’s protection law within this year. As we can’t reach out to the entire public, we need the help of civil society organizations (CSO) to reach them. I want to encourage you to continue your good hearts and work,” said Dr. Mya Thaung, Chairman of the Women and Children’s Rights Committee of Amyothar Hluttaw. 

 “The main objectives of today’s meeting are based on the recommendation from 2012 Concluding Observations report. We will continue to advocate the concerned ministries, parliament members, members of the Women and Children’s Rights committee and Human Rights Commission to act on the points that we’ve raised,” said Ni Ni Hla, Head of Child Rights Governance Program from Save the Children. 

“The discussions in this meeting emphasized different perspectives like education, law, budget, etc. which enable our committee to better plan and make decisions. We also got more information and questions that we want to submit to the parliament. We also need the inputs from the NCRWG in the child law reviewing process because those are the citizen voices. We want to collaborate with the national, regional and state, township and community levels on children issues,” said Hla Hla Soe, Secretary of the Women and Child Rights Committee as well as the Upper House parliament member.

For the first time, the NCRWG met with the Lower House’s Social Development Committee, Public Affairs Management Committee, Health Committee and Education Committee members in March 2015 and discussed and advocated about more budget allocation for health, education and social welfare in order to invest more in children.  

About NGO Child Rights Working Group

NGO Child Rights Working Group is lead by World Vision, Save the Children, and Pestalozzi, and was established in 2009 with members from 19 international and local organizations to voice fully for children’s rights. In 2016, NCRWG member groups included 50 organizations and continue to work for children’s rights throughout the country.

For more information about NCRWG and the involvement of World Vision, please contact

Win Pa Pa Than, Manager, Protection Department, World Vision Myanmar, win_pa_pa_than@wvi.org  

Ko Ko Win, Protection Specialist, World Vision Myanmar, ko_ko_win@wvi.org