Malawi: Girls Activists Youth Organization (GAYO) had highlighted the importance of sensitizing girls regarding their rights and self defense. The organisation said that it is a necessity for communities.
They have to know and understand the importance of observing policies and legal frameworks in order for them to be able to protect children from abuse.
GAYO organised an awareness campaign at Chankhanga Primary School in Mchinji. The aim of this discussion was to sensitize the communities on policies and authorities that protect children.
Programmes coordinator for GAYO, Isobel Jere said it is hard for communities to report cases of abuse to the right authorities when they have little or no information on child protection policies, saying this leads to ineffective intervention thereby placing more children at risk of undergoing the same fate.
“Many children in communities suffer from abuse because guardians and people in the community do not know the right channels to follow in order to get help, so we believe that this awareness will help shade more light on how to go about it if they ever need help,” said Jere.
Jere further explained that not only will people know the right channels to follow but they will also be able to reprimand each other in the community if they notice that something is wrong especially when it comes to their children in the society.
Magistrate In charge for Mchinji Magistrate court, Fred Juma Chilowetsa said people are taking matters into their own hands especially on issues to deal with child abuse and this is hindering the progress of the fight against child abuse in communities.
“Many people in the society do not report issues of abuse to the right authorities saying it is family matters and should be resolved amidst them but this is erroneous because when it comes to Child Care Protection and Justice Act any issue that puts a child’s life in jeopardy needs to be addressed and reprimanded by the law,” said Chilowetsa.
He said that community leaders must implement policies and legal frameworks that will help them to fight against child abuse but to also make sure that they report these issues to the police so that children are fully protected and get the justice they deserve.
Senior Chief Chapakama who represented Traditional Authority Kapondo said as leaders in the area, they will make sure that cases of abuse will be handed to proper authorities to handle so that justice is served. He also lauded GAYO for the work that they are doing.
He went on to say that implementing children protection by-laws will help communities overcome child abuse cases and help children grow in health environment.
GAYO is implementing a community engagement sponsorship project funded by World Vision Malawi.
The organisation invited different officials at the awareness campaign to explain on the policies that help protect children which include the social welfare office, gender office, the health sector and the magistrate court.