DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS CHAPTER 2: PROTECTION Challenges ? When children report their matters to police they are ignored only because they are young. ? Children are vulnerable to school leavers who sit on corners and bridges. Recommendations ? Children need maximum constitutional protection by having children's rights included in the new constitution. ? The government must assign police to get rid of the school leavers who sit on corners and bridges. 2.18 DISTRICT: PROVINCE: VENUE: DATE: PARTICIPANTS: GUTU DISTRICT MASVINGO PROVINCE GUTU UNITED PRIMARY SCHOOL 8 JULY 2010 242 CHILDREN (121 GIRLS AND 121 BOYS) CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS BIRTH REGISTRATION Challenges ? Children are facing difficulties in acquiring birth certificates because the registration offices are far away from their homes. ? Many children in Gutu do not have birth certificates and are being denied education. Recommendations ? Children should be allowed to carry out registration process on their own. Hospitals should provide birth certificates soon after birth and registration offices should be close to people in rural areas. CHILD HEADED FAMILIES Challenges ? Most parents are dying of HIV and AIDS and some are going to South Africa looking for greener pastures leaving very young children in charge of the families. Recommendations ? Adults should be educated so that they would appreciate the effects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic such as making children orphans with some of these heading households. ? Parents should leave an adult in charge of children especially when going outside the country where they will stay for very long periods. CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 45