ETHIOPIA: Safeguarding and protection of children is a God given responsibility, says Bishop Gebremedhin
Christians are commissioned to protect and nurture children as this is a responsibility given to all followers of Christ, says the Apostolic Vicar of Jimma Bonga, Rt. Rev. Markos Gebremedhin, CM. He was speaking at the official launching of the Ethiopian Catholic Church Child Protection and Nurturing Policy and the commissioning of the Diocesan Child Protection and Nurturing officers at the Bishops’ Conference Centre in Addis Ababa.
In his speech during the occasion, Bishop Gebremedhin said it was unfortunate that there exist different kinds of mistreatment and abuses to underage children in the world Ethiopia included.
“Such abuses ranges from physical abuse for instance, corporal punishment, child labour, child trafficking, sexual and psychological abuses and lack of awareness among the families on the right of their children, like the right to growth and education as well as and medical treatment.”
H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel (center) during
the launch of Ethiopian Catholic Church Child Protection
and Nurturing Policy in Addis Ababa
Bishop Markos further expressed that children who suffer abuse often develop psychological problems in future when they become adults due to the trauma they suffered and this could make them tend to be suicidal or have vengeful tendencies.
He explained that it is against this backdrop that the Bishops Conference of Ethiopia mandated the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat ECS to developed a child protection policy document as a tool to create awareness among Church personnel such as priests, religious, school teachers, catechists, and youth leader and employees of the Catholic institutions.
“Owing to the seriousness of the matter, an office has been created at ECS to work on the issues of safeguarding Children and vulnerable adults. At the same time advisory committee has been established both at national level and delegates from each ecclesiastical jurisdiction,” he explained adding that the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is making efforts towards ensuring that in all its jurisdictions safety, wellbeing and dignity of children such as meeting their basic needs and providing better education is prioritized.
As they launched the Catholic Church Child Protection and Nurturing Policy on 22nd May 2018, Bishop Markos explained that as Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia they felt it was their responsibility to make the issue one a priority as they join the efforts of universal Church in protection of minors because the achievements of a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults requires the commitment of all.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
