TANZANIA: Catechists should be skilled on Child Protection implementation Policy
Director of the Directorate of Social Services at the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Jovin Riziki has asked all Catechists in the Country to put into implementation the TEC Child Protection Policy, which was passed by the Bishops in 2017.
In his statement presented during the three-day workshop of Diocesan Secretary for Catechesis held at Kurasini, Dar es Salaam, Riziki commended the Catechists for doing a great job for the Church especially initiating religion among children adding that the policy would help them understand their role better especially in the career.
“It is our duty to build their capacities and inform them about the policy taking advantage of their numbers (12, 000) so that they may reach many people in the while exercising their duties,” he said adding that there is need for them to be acquainted with the policy for them to provide proper care to children.
“Health department is obliged to present a topic on child protection because last year 2017 the Catholic Bishops in the country passed a child protection policy which should be implemented by all the people working within the Catholic Church. In addition, help them to inform others in their dioceses that the Catholic Bishops in Tanzania have adopted policy on child protection for all workers in the schools, orphanages, and elsewhere,” he said.
Riziki also noted with concern that, violence against children which include physical, psychological and emotional and sexual abuse are becoming rampant in the societies. Calling on the Church to raise its voice against these violence and Catholic institutions to be aware of these problems in order to take part in the fight against the malice
“The policy is clear that whoever violates it in any way punitive measure should be applied on him or her,” he said.
He said that among the recommendations the Catholic Bishops have given is to set an office at national and diocesan level so that all issues related to child abuse are dealt with thoroughly.
In addition, all schools should also have a Co-coordinator for the child protection where they will be collaborating with others to identify those who abuse children and report to Parish or Diocesan Coordinator for Child Protector to deal with the issue.
By Sarah Pelaji, Dar es Salaam.
