TANZANIA: “Priests Raise Efforts to Protect Children,” TEC Secretary General Appeals
Participants of the Workshop for the Union of Catholic Priests in Tanzania
The Secretary-General Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Fr Charles Kitima, has appealed to Catholic priests in Tanzania to intensify efforts to protect children by mobilizing society against any form of violence.
He made the remarks earlier while opening a three-day workshop for the Union of Catholic priests in Tanzania (UMAWATA) who came from different dioceses in Tanzania and was held at TEC in Dar es Salaam from 12th to 16th August.
In a meeting organized by TEC Pastoral Department in partnership with the Association of Bishops of East Africa (AMECEA), Fr Kitima said it is the duty of priests as spiritual leaders, to protect children spiritually and physically and to avoid being involved or implicated in vicious practices.
“It is our responsibility to protect children from any evil. In particular, we must not allow them to be abused in any way. The issue of child safeguarding is universal as some people have deviated and found themselves among the perpetrators in various ways and ultimately, lurch the little ones in scars,” he said.
He said the priests should not in any way cover up the problem or remain silence because that could make matters worse in the future.
“Confidentiality in these matters is probably not that important. As UMAWATA leaders we have to educate our fellow priests in the diocese to be the voice of children,” he said.
However, Fr Kitima said, the Church has already put in place various strategies to ensure children are protected from violence among which is to develop a Child Protection Policy for all the dioceses.
He said what is needed now is for different dioceses to use the AMECEA Child Safeguarding Guidelines and Standards according to their context.
“The bishops have already issued the Child Protection Policy and Guidelines. What is required by the dioceses is to implement by by contextualizing them within your environment,” he stressed.
He further said that drafting of the Guidelines is also one obligation from the Holy Father who wants to ensure that the Child safeguarding policies and laws in place in their Universal Church.
The AMECEA Secretary General, Fr Anthony Makunde said, as a coordinating office for the Catholic Bishops in the region, AMECEA has already prepared and launched the guidelines.
“This workshop is for us the first of other workshops that are expected to take place in the various countries that are in the AMECEA region,” he said.
Violence against children is a problem that has been increasing day by day in various countries of the world and is takes various forms including physical, sexual, economic and psychological.
According to the Centre for Law and Human Rights (LHRC), from January to June, 2018, approximately 394 children in mainland Tanzania had been sexually abused. The action of the Catholic Church to intervene in this regard has come at the right time as it will enable children to live in peace without fear.
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By Sarah Pelaji & Dalphina Rubyema
