Family and Social Affairs review 2020 |31 December 2020
Launching the NCFD strategic plan. Signing of the pledge of commitment by Attorney General Frank Ally and Minister Mitcy Larue
Empowering, supporting, promoting individuals’ wellbeing
In spite of the numerous challenges and new portfolios, namely youth and sports added to the Ministry of Family Affairs following the change in government in October, the ministry has nevertheless honoured its mandate to empower, support and promote the well-being of individuals and families to overcome social challenges in 2020.
The ministry used to comprise the department of family affairs which serves as the preventive arm where research and policies are carried out to drive social development, the social affairs department which serves as the intervention arm to address social deficits and reintegration into society, whereas the poverty alleviation department sets out to identify, advocate and support families in need.
The ministry administered the Agency for Social Protection (ASP), the National Council for Children (NCC), the National Council for the Elderly (NCE) and the National Council for the Disabled (NCFD).
The following are some of the ministry’s achievements in 2020.
Success of Seychelles' Special Olympians
Seychelles' Special Olympians comprising athletes and facilitators from the National Council for the Disabled (NCFD) in January brought home medals from competing in the first ever Special Olympics Pan African Games which took place in Cairo, Egypt from January 23-31, 2020 under the auspices of Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the Egyptian President.
Seychelles won a total of 18 medals ‒ six gold, six silver and six bronze.
Launch of NCFD strategic plan
In February, the NCFD launched its strategic plan for 2019-2023. This strategic document is a bold framework signaling the need to change our perceptions and take concrete actions to better help the disabled in our society. Through this document, stakeholders are being asked to commit to the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the mainstream for the empowerment of individuals, for the advancement of persons living with disabilities and their families, and, for the sake of sustainability.
Minister Mitcy Larue signed the document.
During the same month, Seychelles received its first beach wheelchair donated to the NCFD by Winslow Naya Consulting firm. The beach wheelchair is stationed at the Beau Vallon lifeguard centre and will be always available on demand on the beach.
The NCFD also commissioned its new disabled-friendly bus.
Ministry of family affairs essential service provider
In March, the Ministry of Family Affairs was listed as an essential service provider during the Covid-19 outbreak.
It provided help through various helplines and strict restrictions for visitors in all homes for the elderly.
The ministry received R30 million in supplementary budget which was allocated to the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) to assist parents and children through the dedicated funds, to provide an allowance for home carers during the period of restriction on movement and to reinforce health guidelines in children’s care homes as part of measures to safeguard families during this difficult time.
Key entities receive donations of consumable goods during the pandemic
In April, key entities received donations of consumable goods to be used during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the international francophone partner Association Laïque pour l’Education, la Formation, la Prévention et l’Autonomie held a video conference to address the growing prevalence of domestic violence against women and children who were staying at home for most of the time because of measures against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recommendations for reforms in child protection measures
The ministry as part of the high level committee for child protection chaired by then President Danny Faure, in May, submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations for reforms of existing structures and policies in place regarding child protection following the conviction of three men charged for sexual abuse on 75 girls.
In a bid to protect children from violence in the home, the National Assembly passed a law and the adoption of the Children (Amended) Act 2020 which bans corporal punishment. The Act makes provision to ban corporal punishment, a big achievement in terms of the implementation of the Concluding Observation of the UNCRC. It also makes provision for social services to become the central authority in respect of the Hague Convention on international adoption and child abduction.
Domestic violence Act assented
The Domestic Violence Act 2020 ‒ the first act criminalising domestic violence ‒ was assented to by President Faure in June. The government also allocated a piece of land to the family affairs department for the construction of a one-stop centre for survivors of domestic violence and to ensure the implementation of the country’s domestic violence strategy (for safety reasons the location will remain undisclosed).
Poverty alleviation awareness campaign
In July the Poverty Alleviation department in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics conducted an Awareness campaign via focus groups dissemination sessions targeting first, each of the four dimensions of the survey separately; that is living standards, health, employment and education. The findings of the survey can assist all ministries and other organisations concerned to come up with appropriate interventions to alleviate poverty in the country.
Allowance for expectant mothers residing on inner islands
Following approval in August 2019, the policy for an allowance of R1500 for expectant mothers residing on the inner islands who come to give birth on Mahe took effect. This initiative is a collaboration between the parenting education programme under the social affairs department and the ASP.
Also in August, Seychelles, through the gender secretariat of the family affairs department, successfully launched the Comesa 50 Million African Women Speak project - SEYCHELLES. The project is a digital networking platform for women entrepreneurs that promote the exchange of ideas for Eastern and Southern African countries. Following the launch by President Faure, the website is now managed by Enterprise Seychelles Agency (Esa).
Improving standard in children’s care homes
Following the Cabinet of Ministers’ approval of the 22 Standards set for quality care in children’s care homes earlier this year, the social affairs department held a training workshop on the monitoring and inspection framework of these standards. The half-day education and awareness session served to equip staff at the four children’s homes together with social workers and staff from the NCC with tools to ensure the implementation of these standards, thus, improve the services provided for children in their care.
To recall, the standards were set forward to debunk unfounded notions and practices when it comes to children living in children’s care homes with now more meticulous attention to what is in the best interest of the child.
First cohort of mentors awarded
The ministry awarded the first cohort of ‘mentors’ under the one-to-one mentorship programme in October after the group successfully completed their foundation training. The group of 13 mentors from Mahé and 10 from Praslin comprise of active and retired individuals from various background, ranging from social work, counseling, sociology, psychology, teaching, health and other areas of experience in community work. The initiative led by the poverty alleviation department and advisor Beryl Naiken sought for mentors to work closely with selected individuals to address the underlying factors that place them in the “needy” position as well as prevent those on the borderline from falling into the poverty trap.
Also in October with the portfolios of youth and sports added to family, the ministry came under the leadership of Minister Marie-Celine Zialor, while the department of social affairs moved to the Ministry of Employment under the leadership of Minister Patricia Francourt.
Disabled girl addresses National Assembly
Miss Tanny Samedi, a 15-year-old blind girl in November addressed the National Assembly to draw attention to the plight of all children especially that of those living with a disability in Seychelles and to ensure their voices are heard at the highest level. Her address to the National Assembly coincided with the commemoration of World Children’s Day 2020.
Miss Samedi urged leaders of the legislature, the executive and the country as a whole to reflect on issues affecting children, especially those living with disabilities, and to take concrete actions.
Unveiling of Orange Day logo
The 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25, the international day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. The theme chosen by the United Nations this year is ‘Orange the world: Fund, respond, prevent, collect!’
The official launch of the programme was held at the Family House, Bel Eau in the presence of First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Ambassador Mary-Pierre Lloyd and principal secretaries from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family and Ministry of Education.
In the absence of Minister Marie-Celine Zialor as she was held up in a Cabinet meeting, principal secretary for family affairs Marie-Josée Bonne conveyed the greetings of the minister to the audience and also encouraged them to help bring more awareness in the community and participate fully in the campaign.
Young people who took part in the Orange Day logo competition were acknowledged and rewarded. The competition was launched in September for students from the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design and 13 entries were received from 10 students. The logos were judged based on their design and the message the students wanted to convey.
Nasha Chetty’s design was chosen and she explained that her logo represents a mum, dad and the child all united in a circle and bonded with two hands. The message on the logo is ‘Say NO to all forms of violence’.
As part of activities to mark the International Men’s Day, a first group of men followed the training of trainers’ workshop and they advocated for the creation of an association for men. This initiative is part of the male engagement programme to train young employees from different organisations to become male role models. The training aims to equip young males with resilience building capacities to better deal with gender-based issues and to avoid resorting to violence, to help promote gender equality and ensure that the holistic human development is maintained in Seychellois society.
New minister conducts familiarisation visits
The new Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor conducted a series of familiarisation visits to different entities under her portfolio on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue in December. The insightful visits are to help the minister in her restructuring plan and the way forward for the different portfolios under her responsibility. The restructuring of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family is expected to be finalised by early next year.
Contributed by family affairs department
