Social Renaissance Review - People empowerment at the core of 2014 initiatives |31 December 2014
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports took the National Social Renaissance campaign to the next level this year as it sought at empowering people at risks though various initiatives, projects and activities.
“The Social Renaissance campaign was not devised in a vacuum to simply address social problems. We have realised that it is going to be a long struggle to change the mindset of people. But we had to start from somewhere. We are battling social ills on every front. We are reaching out to children, parents, workers, neighbours, teenagers, criminals, the vagrants, young delinquents, the unemployed, drug addicts, alcoholics, young expecting mothers and, victims of domestic and family violence. We have now reached the stage where we start empowering people to become responsible for their own lives and actions. Our solutions to the social problems can only make a meaningful impact if the victims and people at risks are ready to receive them and change for the better,” Minister Vincent Meriton, who also chairs the National Social Renaissance Committee, says.
As a result, a series of concrete projects, activities and campaigns, new legislations, reforms in policies, new action plans and strategies, all given robust media support, were realised throughout 2014.
At the very beginning of the year, the ministry took the lead to re-assess its own internal structures through a strategic workshop, taking stock of its strengths, weaknesses and the new emerging social needs of its over 400 staff. Two important points were made: firstly, that the workplace should not be seen as closed-off spaces where people leave their personal problems at the door; secondly, it was discovered that taking an interest in employees’ well-being was a good way to boost the workplace environment and productivity. This gave birth to social dialogue, a new pilot project being undertaken by the ministry with the Agency for Social Protection and National Sports Council aimed at identifying staff at risk of falling prey to social ills and subsequently referring them to other service providers for direct assistance. By year end, over a 100 of the ministry’s staff have benefitted from the social dialogue sessions. The programme is expected to be extended to other partners in government and agencies.
The month of February was marked by the opening of the Night Shelter at North East Point set up to deter vagrant behaviour of people who were sleeping rough in the streets when their family relations disintegrate due to alcohol or drug abuse. The Night Shelter has been hailed a remarkable success and through the exercise which ensued, as many as over 50 people who were sleeping rough on the streets in Victoria have been re-integrated within their families, though not all have gone through the shelter. Throughout the year the shelter’s occupancy rate has increased from 4 per night to 11.
One of the cornerstones of the five-year Renaissance Action plan launched in October 2012 is to uphold the family as the central unit of society. Groundwork started this year for the formulation of a national Family Policy to include all sectoral social policies that impact on the family. This was during a conference on Families Matter held to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family on May 15. The new Family Policy will address new challenges that have been negatively impacting on the family over the last 20 years. These are characterised by the increase in divorce, non-marital fertility, cohabitation, combined with declines in marriage, infidelity, teenage pregnancies, single woman headed households, the prevalence of HIV/Aids and Hepatitis C, substance abuse, prostitution, manifested socially by a growing culture of irresponsibility and dependency, poor work ethic, bad parenting, youth anti-social behaviour and unstable families.
Another decisive, but innovative action taken this year to respond to social ills within the families is the launch of the parenting sessions as a pilot project in two districts namely Anse Aux Pins and Perseverance. The aim of the programme was to empower, enhance knowledge and skills of parents to enable them to better manage challenging situations and maintain good family relationships. The parents targeted are those with a history of being on welfare assistance, users of social services, those whose partners are in prison and those with children with anti-social behaviour. Over 20 parents from the two districts who have successfully completed sessions on life skills, dealing with challenging behaviour, family values and preservation, communication among others, received their certificates earlier this month. The sessions are expected to continue in 2015 in other districts.
One of the most significant initiatives launched in 2014 is the Child Protection Campaign against Sexual Abuse. This followed an increase in reported cases in the media during the middle of the year. The educational campaign against child abuse took the districts by storm with talks being organised for parents with children in primary schools at regional level. Parents’ turn-out were commendable in talks held at various schools such as La Rosière, Mont Fleuri, Anse Aux Pins, Grand Anse Mahé, Pointe Larue, La Digue and Praslin. The sessions, chaired by Designated Minister Meriton, is to ensure that parents are well informed about the issue of child sexual abuse as the Attorney General’s Office works towards toughening the laws against the perpetrators. The talks will continue in 2015. A march against child abuse was also organised towards the end of the year.
Earlier during the year, the ministry launched the Risk-Indicator Framework Assessment, a new tool aimed at strengthening partnership between different agencies to ensure better detection and protection of children at risk. The powers vested in social services enable it to ensure a coordinating role in the protection of children against all forms of abuse. However, the protection of children also requires close working relationship between the social services and other agencies such as the police, health workers, schools counsellors and housing officers.
As part of measures to curb the consumption of alcohol and drug use among both the youth and adults, the Drug and Alcohol Council (Dac) launched an Alcohol Awareness Month in July under the theme “Lalkol Annou Dyaloge.” This was followed by a Drug Awareness Campaign in November. It is to be noted that Dac has also conducted a Substance Abuse Survey on the inner islands targeting youth aged between 14 to 21 years. Both campaigns were marked by spots and programmes on the media.
With over 90% of reported cases of domestic violence in the country being perpetrated against women, the ministry in October moved towards adopting a new National Gender Policy and Action Plan. Better protection for women victims of domestic violence will be guaranteed with a new piece of legislation, the Domestic Violence Bill, which will be ready by next year. The important role of men in society was also given due recognition this year with the launch of the first National Men’s Award on Men’s Day on November 19.
On the other hand two important legislations, concerning Trafficking of Persons and Probation Offenders were enacted this year. The ministry is also playing an active role in the Civil Code Reform process. During the course of the year it hosted a forum to consider the radical impact, changes in laws concerning marriage and succession will have on the society at large. The consultation process is expected to hit the road in 2015 as it goes round the districts seeking public opinion.
Noise pollution, under aged drinking, Youth Empowerment programme, youth anti-social behaviour, Harm and Crime Reduction Programme for the rehabilitation of prisoners at Coetivy are some other ongoing initiatives that are being carried out with other partners such as the ministries of environment, employment, health, education and home affairs, under the Social Renaissance campaign.
Reiterating the Family Day 2014 message, the principal secretary for Social Affairs, Linda William Melanie, calls on all families to choose the best in life.
“Choose to put our children first but to also retain a special place for our parents and elders in our lives. Choose the values that will ensure the stability, functionality and success of our families. Choose to be responsible and empowered family members and take the right decisions that will be for our benefit and well-being of our society.”
Contributed by the Public Relations Office in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports
