As Malawi and the rest of the African Union and its member states observe the International Day of the African Child, Lumbadzi Police Station has challenged members of the safe schools program steering committee to be ambassadors of the police in the fight against child rights violation.
The sentiments were made on Friday, June 16, 2023 at Mlezi Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Chitukula in Lilongwe, during Safe Schools Program review meeting.
In her address, Lumbadzi Community Policing Coordinator, Inspector Jane Mkangala, urged the participants to assist the police and other stakeholders in eradicating child rights abuse in the area by among others, promoting and protecting their rights.
“For us to win the battle against child rights abuse, there is need to report all perpetrators of the vice to police for proper action”, said Mkangala.
She further warned to take stiffer action against members of the community, companies, business community and other agencies who promote child rights abuse such as child labor, forced and early marriages, child trafficking and abduction, among others.
Deputy headteacher for Mlezi Primary School Treeazor Katukumala, commended police and UNICEF for introducing the program which has already started bearing good fruits such as discipline among students and teachers.
Safe schools program is a project being implemented by Malawi Police Service with funding from UNICEF. Its steering committee comprises of Police Officers, Health Surveillance Assistant, Social worker, School management committee chairperson, Community Policing Panel member, Mother group chairperson, Headteacher and head boy/girl.
Today’s activity coincedes with the June 16, annual event which honours the memories of students who were massacred in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 for protesting against education injustice and inequality during the apartheid regime.
It was designated as Day of the African Child in 1991 by the African Union and every year events are organized to promote children’s rights.
This year’s theme is “right to participate: let children be seen and heard”.
Sergeant Felix Kwinyani Lumbadzi Police Station Public Relations Officer
Way to go Lumbadzi Police.