Counter The Culture Of Child Abuse And Exploitation - PANOS

Lusaka - PANOS Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) has called for concerted efforts to counter the culture of child abuse and exploitation at community level to end the practice. Executive director Lillian Kiefer said in a statement issued in Lusaka. It is disheartening that some adults inflict harm on children. “Such practices at
times force children to engage in alcohol and substance abuse, prostitution and crime, among others. What is more saddening is that most of these bad practices go unreported and unpunished,”  She said the challenges of child protection  in the communities where PSAf is implementing activities include parental negligence, defilement, exploitation and violence. “During community sensitisation meetings in Selu, Nkolemfumu, Chitamba and Chisanga villages in Kasama, Northern Province, and in Mkushi, weak child protection systems came up as the reason why child abuse has persisted,”. Ms Kiefer said while community members are in most cases willing to be part of efforts to build and strengthen strong child protection systems at community level, limited support from the authorities and other stakeholders compromises their efforts. She believes that when community members and other stakeholders come together and share ideas, they can counter the culture of child abuse and exploitation, and promote a culture of protecting children. She said communities must be supported to access platforms through which their voices can be amplified, and through which they can influence decisions and actions that promote child protection. “Child protection is the responsibility of all stakeholders. We are emphasizing the need for concerted efforts at all levels and in all contexts to effectively respond to strengthen child protection at community level,” Ms Kiefer said.