Spotlight on child exploitation
JOBURG – Two organisations tell of their plans for and the importance of Child Protection Week.
Child Protection Week is an annual week-long event, observed from 29 May to 5 June, which revolves around advocacy against all forms of violence and abuse of children.
“It’s important to observe Child Protection Week as this annual week serves to remind us of the scourge of violence against children, and the need to keep prioritising the needs and rights of all children above all else, throughout the year, if we, as a society are serious about eradicating child exploitation and abuse,” said advocacy manager at Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA), Germaine Vogel.
WMACA in Ferndale plans to host a press conference during the week to show their participation and ongoing awareness campaign against the violence against children.
An organisation who shares this view and participation, Afrika Tikkun, will host a Child Protection Week dialogue on 30 May. The discussion will be led by the youth who are part of the Empowerment Programme.
Afrika Tikkun believes in creating a platform for active citizenship. It aims to amplify the voices of those often left out of conversations about human rights issues that affect them, those such as children and the youth, especially girls and young women as well as children with disabilities and their families.
“No form of exploitation of a child can be coined as better or worse than another. No form of exploitation of any child should be occurring in a healthy society,” expressed Vogel.
According to Vogel, rape and violence against children is preventable and citizens and policy makers need to make the effort to prevent this violence as it dampens the country’s efforts to eradicate poverty in decreasing productivity and depriving children of their full potential.
WMACA urges the citizens of this country to demand government to make every effort to reduce poverty, to ensure equal access to all resources and to implement effective policies and services urgently required to prevent all forms of violence and exploitation of children.
“We urge parents and caregivers to not leave children unaccompanied whether in their homes or to and from school. Families need to be vigilant that family members themselves are not harming children in their homes. We urge all employees related to services to children to ensure well-trained professionals safe to work with children, are employed,” Vogel added.
Details: Women and Men Against Child Abuse, 011 789 8815; Afrika Tikkun, 011 325 5914.
