Waso calls for zero tolerance against child abuse and for respect for human rights |27 May 2021
“The Women in Action and Solidarity Organisation (Waso) wishes to join with all concerned citizens to severely condemn the recent incident of abuse against our innocent children.
“As Waso we call for zero tolerance against perpetrators of any form of such abuse and abuse against women, girls, boys and our youth.
“This is a clear situation, whereby some irresponsible persons are violating the law and using their power to control innocent human beings.
“Situation like this should never had happened because we have to remember that at an early stage of our childhood, we were all children powerless and defenseless and we would not have wished to see anybody abusing us.
“Let us remember our own childhood as an innocent, helpless child and assist to put an end to such abuse!!
“Abuse of human rights does not affect only our children, but above all it tarnishes the whole image and fabric of our society.
“To all parents, guardians and grandparents, especially those working outside home I have this message: I know you have every good intention to see your children grow up healthy and disciplined, hence let us train them at an early age to distinguish between what is right that we should do and what is wrong that we should not entertain. How do you do it?
“First and foremost we have to be in constant communication with our child or children.
“This sad incident is showing us that changes need to be made in the way we train our children, but foremost these changes need to start with us. Good parenting and good parent-child relationship should help us to discover what takes place when our children are not with us and even at school.
“Parents’ education both at home and outside needs to be strengthened and different from what it used to be, more emphasis should be placed on violence especially abuse against women, youth and smaller children. Let us ensure that parents’ education is more about parental attitudes towards our children and demonstration of responsible behaviour.
“Waso calls for everyone of us to reflect on our own attitude and behaviour today and see if in many circumstances we are not responsible for what happened to our children. Just to give an example to illustrate what I want to say by ‘Our families are often at risk thus are our children’.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and not hide the reality under the carpet. How many of our parents today are too frequently changing partner for one reason or another? How many parents are abandoning their home and their children for the sake of making a choice between supporting and standing by his wife or cohabitee and for the sake of starting a relationship with a new lover? This situation is getting to be more alarming, and this is where often many single parents struggle alone and have no time to properly raise the children.
“To conclude Waso calls upon all authorities concerned – government, legislators, judiciary and NGOs – to join hands and work together to put an end to abuse against our children all for the sake of assuring a healthy family lifestyle and healthy citizens of this society.”
Press release from Waso