To celebrate the launch of the revised European Union (EU) Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, Plan International is partnering with the European External Action Service to organize a global youth takeover of EU Delegation social media accounts.

Throughout April, young people across Africa, Asia and the Americas will share their views on the challenges children in their country face, and what more needs to be done to ensure every child’s rights are realized, directly from the Twitter and Facebook accounts of participating EU Delegations. In Ghana, the Youth Takeover will take place on Wednesday, April 26th, from 10am – 2pm.

The revised Guidelines set the EU’s overarching strategy to defend and promote children’s rights in the world. They set out the actions that EU officials should take, and outline the principles underpinning EU action, the priorities for EU engagement and the tools which can be used.

“Every child should have the ability to achieve their fullest potential, this means they should learn, lead, decide and thrive in order to create a just world in which all children’s rights are realized. This cannot be achieved if children do not participate in their own decision making,” Madam Fadimata Alainchar, Country Director of Plan International Ghana.

"The European Union has identified the need for the promotion and protection of child rights in Ghana as part of the EU Country Human Rights Strategy. The EU Country Human Rights strategy is written after extensive consultations with Human Rights Defenders in Ghana including the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, with EU Member States also involved", William Hanna, Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana.

"The EU Delegation in 2012 and 2013 pooled funds and launched a call for proposal focused on the promotion and protection of children from abuse, exploitation and exposure to harm. These calls are targeted at civil society organizations as well as state institutions such as the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice to work with state agencies such as the local authorities and also communities to implement specific activities aimed at ensuring the protection of children from the violation of their rights" he stated.

Mr. Hanna observed that the EU delegation has launched another call in 2017 to promote and protect child rights in Ghana. This call aims at supporting civil society organizations to work with relevant stakeholders in ensuring the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. In the reviewed Human Rights Country strategy for Ghana the issue of Child Rights remains a priority. The EU and Member States will work with other organizations and agencies such as civil society organizations, UN agencies, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social protection to ensure the protection of children.

“It is important to consider the views of young people as they understand the issues that affect them better.” Harriet Ndanu, a youth Ambassador of Plan International Ghana stated.

Follow the takeover on Twitter (@WilliamHannaEU, @EuropeInGhana) and Facebook (www.Facebook.com/EuDelegationToGhana) or using hashtags #YouthTakeover and EU4Children.