By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, October 27, Mana: World Vision Malawi (MVM) has called for the intensive public awareness to break culture of silence in reporting child rights violation and abuse in the country.
WVM Country Director to Malawi, Hazel Nyathi said this Friday in Lilongwe during a media briefing at the end of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) week.
She noted that a lot of child violations and abuses are taking place in the country but are not being reported to relevant authorities for action due to cultural barriers.
Nyathi said children need to be accorded their rights and nobody has an obligation to take them away from them and hence the need to provide them with protection of any form.
“Any child under the age of 18 has a right enjoy their rights and they should not be subjected to any form of violation or abuse within their communities for their proper development,” Country Director pointed out.
She observed that it deplorable to hear that children are being subjected to violence, abuse, assault, impunity and depression but communities are failing to detect them and report for redress.
Nyathi expressed concern over the alleged rape by a Police Officer of a 14 year old gilr in custody at Chisepo Police station in Dowa.
She said it was disheartening that a police officer who was supposed to proved protection to children is in the forefront indulging in such acts putting the lives of many children at risks.
“Law enforcers are supposed to provide protection and security to children, 365 days and 24 hours a day but this is not the case,” Nyathi pointed out.
Nyathi is calling for the Police to expedite the case and bring the culprit to justice.
“We join forces that condemn the abuse of the young girl. It is a violation of child protection commitments we expect from institutions such as police. World Vision hopes justice will prevail and witness protection will be ensured,” the Country director hoped.
Secretary for ECD Collation, Fidelis Chasukwa said communities need to development mechanism and have ability to detect and report cases of child violation in their societies.
He said community structures should be strengthened to empower them to take up issues of violation as part of their responsibility and govern should ensure that the justice systems to addressing the issues are expedited to give hope and confidence to them.