Goma, 21 June 2012 - For this year's International Day of the African Child, more than 300 children gathered at the Youth Center in Goma, Nord-Kivu province, to celebrate in their own special way a day that is dedicated to their cause.

The theme for this year's celebration was "The obligation to protect, respect, promote and achieve the rights of physically impaired children". Organized with the support of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), the celebration provided an opportunity for these children, most of them from Social Education Centers, to urge the provincial authorities to continue their efforts to promote the rights of children living with disabilities.

Thus, during a meal shared with the provincial authorities, Jackson Byenda, a primary school child in his final year asked that the Congolese authorities ensure free education for children living with disabilities. « Education is a right that must be guaranteed to all children, with particular attention given to disabled children, » said Thérèse Sebagenzi Kanze, the Head of the provincial Government's Division of Gender, Family and Children.

This ceremony was organized by the provincial Division of Gender, Family and Children.

Sylvestre Kilolo/ MONUSCO