Published by the government of Zimbabwe
16 June 2009
editorial
Harare — TODAY marks the launch of Seven Days of Activism Against Child Abuse which runs up to June 22.
This is a crucial day for children.
The day serves as a reminder to all communities on the African continent to continue to observe, uphold and protect the rights of young people.
Zimbabwe started commemorating the Day of the African Child in 1991.
The commemoration this year seeks to achieve, among other objectives, community awareness on children's rights, to review progress made and challenges encountered in the implementation of legislative and policy framework on children's rights and to provide a platform for children, child and youth-oriented organisations, policy makers and the community at large to share ideas and information on children's rights.
This should be a time for everyone to sit down and consider the rights of our children, which apparently are being abused with sickening regularity.
The Day of the African Child is marked to remember the day when the fundamental right to life was blatantly abused by the then apartheid regime of South Africa when about 152 protesting schoolchildren were massacred on June 16 1976.
Ironically, a government the schoolchildren had been counting upon for protection was the very one responsible for this horrendous deed.
Indeed, what is most disturbing about the violation of children's rights is that the perpetrators are, in most cases, the very people who are supposed to protect them.
How many times have we heard of parents, uncles, maids, teachers, neighbours and even priests sexually abusing children whose trust in them is total?
The Seven Days of Activism Against Child Abuse should offer a chance to all those who are abusing children to think again.
It is unfortunate that on a daily basis children are subjected to a variety of human rights violations that include sexual and verbal abuse, corporal punishment in schools, neglect, lack of love and poverty.
It is sad to note that the number of reported cases of child abuse is only a drop in the ocean when compared to what is happening on the ground.
For the sake of the child, all cases should be reported to the relevant authorities without fear or intimidation.
Stopping child abuse through legislation alone may not be the solution.
It should be the task of all to promote awareness campaigns to respect the rights of the child.
There are some organisations which have been formed to protect the rights of the child. This is most commendable.
Children should be continuously made aware on prevention strategies against all forms of child abuse.
Workshops and educational activities such as essay writing or competitions can be used as a mechanism of imparting knowledge on child abuse.
Companies and individuals should be encouraged to pour in funds into a spirited campaign that should produce results and reassure victims of abuse that the world is not such a bad place after all.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
See all comments (2).
Active Discussions: International Day of ther African Child