TSJ rules in favor of child advocacy civil sector forum vs. CNDN bureaucrats

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, March 21, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) Electoral Chamber has supported the Venezuelan child protection system Foro Propio’s (civil sector forum) interpretation of electoral proceedings for children’s rights councils.

According to the Child Protection Law (Lopna), the forum is a legal organization of child advocacy and non-government groups (NGOs) that has the power to propose and elect civil sector representatives on municipal, State and national children rights and protection councils respectively.

The National Children’s Rights Council (CNDN) consisting of 50/50 government appointees and civil sector elected officials issued guidelines in December to elect civil sector members.

• Regional forums contested the unilateral decision, arguing that Article 141 gives them the right to choose their representatives.

The TSJ rule confirms that the forum is a citizen assembly of organizations, associations, non-State foundations and persons that have a social vocation in the best interests of children and teenagers and it is up to them to establish electoral mechanisms.