REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT CHILD SAFEGUARDING DURING CHURCH AND CAMP MEETINGS
Fellow citizens, I wish to begin by stating that my Ministry is deeply concerned with the rising number of accidents leading to death of children, adolescents and young adults as has been reported in the recent past, such as the report on an 18-year-old boy in Mafinga District who drowned in the Bemba River. This was during a Pathfinder Fair at Muyombe Primary School.
Fellow country men and women, as you may be aware, there have been a number of deaths reported in a similar manner. This situation is worrisome not only to Government but the country as a whole.
Fellow citizens, I wish to bring to the attention of Nation that following Government’s enactment of the Children’s Code Act, it is now a requirement that all institutions or organizations shall establish and implement child safeguarding and protection procedures to prevent violence against a child and child rights abuse.
Section 276 subsection (1) (d) states that institutions shall have a child safeguarding focal point person and ensure that a child in the care or custody of the institution is aware of the safeguarding focal point person. According to the law institution or cranialization means an institution or organization that provides services care or protection to a child, without the presence of the child’s parents or person having parental responsibility for the child.
Child protection refers to actions done to protect children from concerns of risk or harm. It is about making the environment safe for children to grow, thrive and realize their full potential. Child protection in the National Child Policy is one of the fundamental rights pillars providing policy measures and strategies aimed at protecting children.
Child Safeguarding is set of policies, procedures and practices employed to actively prevent child harm, abuse and distress. Child safeguarding is specifically focused on preventative actions to ensure that all children are protected from deliberate or unintentional acts that lead to the risk of or actual harm. The goal of child safeguarding is to create and maintain a safe culture that is child-focused and community-driven through sustained and meaningful engagement with children, their families, communities and all representatives.
The Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022 mandates my Ministry to protect and safeguard children in every environment and institution. In order to address all child safeguarding in all environment, my Ministry will be meeting church mother bodies in order to orient and guide the institutions on the need to develop and put in place Child Safeguarding measures in the procedures for church administration to ensure children are safe and protected.
Fellow Citizens, in line with the above pieces of legislation, Child safeguarding is about making the environment safe for children. Government, recognizes that all individuals, organisations, institutions working and interacting with children through their daily work (be it as educators, spiritual leaders, health workers, sports coaches etc.) have a duty of care and protection towards them.
They must acknowledge the responsibilities to keep children safe in every situation. This is important because it provides holistic protection for the children and creates awareness for the other protection issues covered by other frameworks.
My Ministry seeks to ensure through this law that child safeguarding measures are provided by all organizations working directly with children be it for purposes of their education, physical or spiritual development, artistic development or their health education/protection
Fellow citizens, to enhance child safeguarding and protection I am calling upon institutions and organizations working with children to work with my Ministry to develop child safeguarding and protection measures and strategies as well as coordinate their implementation in order to protect children and promote their wellbeing in all environments, including in church meetings,
Fellow citizens as a nation we need child safeguarding in all areas to ensure that children’s rights and well-being are at the centre of everything we do.
(ORIGINAL COPY SIGNED)
Hon. Doreen Sefuke Mwamba MP
Minister of Community Development and Social Services
