TANZANIA: TEC insists education and understand the importance Child Safe guarding

Sarah Pelaji

Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC has held a meeting with the Diocesan Coordinators of Child Protection and Safeguarding with the aim of sharing knowledge, experience on the implementation of the TEC Child Protection and Safety Policy and of the Government.

The meeting was held on April 10 this year at TEC while coordinated by Father Paulino Mligo who is the TEC Child Protection and Safety Coordinator.

In his opening speech, The Director of the Pastoral Directorate Rev. Florence Rutahiwa insisted on educating people of various groups to understand the importance of protecting children. He said that, it is the Church’s mission to recognize the dignity and the equal rights of all members of the human family (Gen 1:26).

“This recognition is the foundation of free will, justice and peace in the world. Guided by this mission, we need to promote social progress and better standards of life for every person,” he said.

Recognizing the TEC Policy on Child Safe guarding, he explained further that it provides guidelines for care and management of children and other vulnerable children cared for by the Religious in various institutions.

Guided by Mark 10:18-15 “Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs,” the Church demonstrates and manifests love and protection for children by recognizing their safety and welfare.

“The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that, the child, by reason of his/her physical and mental immaturity needs special protections and care, including proper legal protection, before and after birth. All children need protection and care but more attention should be given to children living in extremely difficult conditions •e.g., poor environment, wars, illnesses, social marginalization,” he explained.

He insisted on the society to remember that physical/ corporal punishment does not actually improve behavior as it is intended. It instead brings negative mental health outcomes. Instead, said Fr Rutahiwa, it increases child aggression, anti-social behavior, increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior and decreased mental health as adults, quoting Elizabeth Gershoff.

“It leads to intergenerational effect (growing up in a home with routine physical punishment increases the risk of children growing up into adults who abuse their own children or spouse. Hence, violence begets violence; it leads to intergenerational effect (growing up in a home with routine physical punishment increases the risk of children growing up into adults who abuse their own,” he continued.

“We need to have committed children magistrates and lawyers to represent children so that legal system and the judicial system becomes child –friendly in its services. Child protection centers should provide preventive services like a child protection counselor and discussion groups for parents and parent education,” he said Child protection should be at the center of Early Childhood Development policy. The goal has to be improving the quality and delivery of adding, services in child protection and strengthening the professional capacities in child protection.

Fr Florence then suggested that priests and Religious women and men collaborate with the clergy in being close to the people of God.

“We should always remember that the sexual abuse as a violation of human dignity and basic human rights including life and respect results in.

Various Catholic Dioceses in Tanzania have already formulated child protection policies and established child protection and safety units at the provincial level.