Section 3B: Child Mentoring Committee

3B. Child Mentoring Committee (1) There shall be, for the purposes of this Act, a Child Mentoring Committee, which shall consist of— (a) a Chairperson, to be appointed by the Minister; (b) a representative of the Ministry; (c) a representative of the Attorney-General’s Office; C13 – 3 [Issue 2] Child Protection Act (d) a representative of the Commissioner of Police; (e) a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of education; (f) a psychologist to be appointed by the Permanent Secretary; and (g) 2 representatives of non-governmental organisations who have wide experience in issues relating to children, to be appointed by the Minister. (2) The functions of the Committee shall be to— (a) advise the Permanent Secretary and assist him in administering and implementing the Scheme; (b) review at regular intervals the criteria for the recruitment of volunteers as child mentors and advise the Permanent Secretary accordingly; (c) conduct interviews for the recruitment of child mentors and make recommendations to the Permanent Secretary; (d) consider the suitability of a child mentor in relation to a child for the purpose of a mentoring order; (e) periodically assess and evaluate the progress of children placed under the Scheme and submit progress reports to the Permanent Secretary; (f) review at regular intervals the Code of Ethics, and advise the Permanent Secretary accordingly; and (g) carry out such other functions as the Permanent Secretary may assign or delegate to it for the proper administration and effective implementation of the Scheme. (3) The Committee may co-opt such other persons with relevant expertise not already available in the Committee, and set up such subcommittees as it considers necessary to assist it in performing its functions under this Act. (4) (a) There shall be a Secretary to the Committee who shall be a public officer appointed by the Permanent Secretary. (b) The duties of the Secretary to the Committee shall be to— (i) ensure the smooth coordination of the activities of the Committee and the Permanent Secretary; (ii) record all deliberations of the Committee; (iii) assist the Permanent Secretary in keeping a register of child mentors, including a list of child mentors whose registration has been cancelled; and (iv) carry out such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Committee. [Issue 2] C13 – 4 Revised Laws of Mauritius (5) The Committee shall meet at such place and time as the Chairperson may determine. (6) Four members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Committee. (7) Subject to the other provisions of this section, the Committee shall regulate its proceedings in such manner as it thinks fit, provided that a coopted member shall have no voting rights. (8) The members of the Committee and co-opted persons shall be paid such fees and allowance as may be determined by the Minister. [S. 3B inserted by s. 4 of Act 40 of 2008 w.e.f. 20 December 2008.]