KENYA: Ten-Year-Old Girl Urges AMECEA Bishops to Stop Perpetrators of Child Abuse
“I wish that all of you seated here and the whole world will play a role in stopping perpetrators of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children,” implores Nicole Karino, a ten-year-old girl from St. Anne Pre-Primary/Primary Catholic School in Nairobi
Her tiny body did not match her authoritative voice; her poise as she spoke in a pleading voice drew the attention of the participants gathered at JJ McCarthy Center for the launch of AMECEA Child Safeguarding Standards and Guidelines. Save for the clicks of cameras, the silence in the hall as she addressed the clergy, Religious and the laity was intense. When she was done, a number of the audience had their handkerchiefs wiping their tears, an indication that her message had reached home.
Nicole Karino, a ten-year-old girl from St. Anne Pre-Primary and Primary Catholic School in Nairobi had only one message, “I wish that all of you seated here and the whole world will play a role in stopping perpetrators of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children.”
“Coming here today, I am fighting for my future, I am here to tell you adults that you must change your ways,” she challenged. “When I look at all of you gazing at me, I wonder… Will you consider my views and interests? Will you care for my well-being? Will you save me situations of vulnerability? Will you care about my rights and needs? Will you consider my development as a child and my transition to adulthood?” she quipped.
Nicole who was one of the speakers at the launch of AMECEA Child Safeguarding Standards and Guidelines in Nairobi on Wednesday, May 29, admits that the perpetrators of child abuse are often people well known to their victims. They include members of the victim’s own family, care givers, teachers and not excluding religious leaders.
“I have been looking forward to a day like this when I would make the world hear my cry. Thanks to Pope Francis who in one of his documents in 2015 stated that everything possible must be done to rid the Church of the scourge of sexual abuse of Children,” Nicole indicated.
She thanked AMECEA for being in the forefront towards responding to the voices of the poor abused children and also for heeding Pope Francis’ invitation and taking this initiative to ensure that every child is safe and is able to enjoy their childhood.
She called upon the bishops, priests, Religious men and women and all people of good will to embrace zero tolerance against all forms of abuse of children. She further, asked them to contribute to the development of a culture that is sensitive to the needs of children where risks of abuse are minimized and protection, care and support are adequately provided.
During their preparatory meeting in Nairobi ahead of the Rome Summit on Child Protection and Safeguarding, the presidents of AMECEA Conferences identified five key aspects of child abuse in the African context, which were not limited to sexual abuse only. They included physical and emotional abuse as well as neglect and exploitation.
The AMECEA Pastoral Department initiated the process of developing standards and guidelines for Child Safeguarding at a meeting of pastoral coordinators at Kurasini Centre, Tanzania, in 2015. The culmination of that initiative was this launch of the Safeguarding Standards and Guidelines booklet at J.J. McCarthy Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
