MALAWI: CAFOD Condemns the Culture of Silence on Child Abuse
A
Child Protection Advisor from the Catholic Aid Agency for England and Wales
(CAFOD), Kate Iwi has faulted the culture of silence in reporting Child abuse
cases in Malawi and calls for considerable measures to end the abuses.
Child Protection Advisor from the Catholic Aid Agency for England and Wales
(CAFOD), Kate Iwi has faulted the culture of silence in reporting Child abuse
cases in Malawi and calls for considerable measures to end the abuses.
|
| Group Photo of the workshop oarticipants |
Iwi
said this while addressing participants of a two-day workshop organized by
Education Department of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) for training of
trainers (ToT) in Child Protection in Lilongwe.
said this while addressing participants of a two-day workshop organized by
Education Department of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) for training of
trainers (ToT) in Child Protection in Lilongwe.
“There
is a culture here in Malawi where children are not encouraged to speak out and
complain,” she said adding that “Although some researches indicate that there are
plenty of child abuse cases in the country, yet we don’t even really know at
what is the problem because of this culture of silence.”
is a culture here in Malawi where children are not encouraged to speak out and
complain,” she said adding that “Although some researches indicate that there are
plenty of child abuse cases in the country, yet we don’t even really know at
what is the problem because of this culture of silence.”
According
to Iwi, the problem leads to poor performance for children school as an effect
of not being protected by the society.
to Iwi, the problem leads to poor performance for children school as an effect
of not being protected by the society.
She
said that in such scenarios the abused children turn to be arrogant, violent and
ultimately end up abusing others in future.
said that in such scenarios the abused children turn to be arrogant, violent and
ultimately end up abusing others in future.
 |
| Kate Iwi from CAFOD |
Iwi
also commended the Catholic Church in Malawi for taking an initiative to
protect Children from all forms of abuses in the society.
also commended the Catholic Church in Malawi for taking an initiative to
protect Children from all forms of abuses in the society.
“Until
now the Catholic Church in Malawi has worked tirelessly to improve the welfare
of children living in situations of poverty and abuse. However there haven’t
been any mechanisms for encouraging complaints of child abuse from the church
and its institutions, nor has there been a team of people within each diocese
who are equipped to respond to such complaints,” she said.
now the Catholic Church in Malawi has worked tirelessly to improve the welfare
of children living in situations of poverty and abuse. However there haven’t
been any mechanisms for encouraging complaints of child abuse from the church
and its institutions, nor has there been a team of people within each diocese
who are equipped to respond to such complaints,” she said.
Education
Secretary for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Br. Pascal Mtuwana said it is
against this background that ECM brought together the diocesan child protection
agents to equip them with skills on how best to raise awareness locally,
establish local complaints mechanisms such as hotlines telephone numbers,
suggestion boxes etc in an effort to bring awareness of the problem to the
society.
Secretary for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Br. Pascal Mtuwana said it is
against this background that ECM brought together the diocesan child protection
agents to equip them with skills on how best to raise awareness locally,
establish local complaints mechanisms such as hotlines telephone numbers,
suggestion boxes etc in an effort to bring awareness of the problem to the
society.
ECM
is implementing the Child Protection project in a bid to contribute to
strengthening the capacity of the Catholic Church in Malawi in dealing with issues
of child abuse in order to create a safe environment for children.
is implementing the Child Protection project in a bid to contribute to
strengthening the capacity of the Catholic Church in Malawi in dealing with issues
of child abuse in order to create a safe environment for children.
SOURCE:
Prince Henderson, ECM Communications
Officer
Prince Henderson, ECM Communications
Officer
