As one way of promoting the rights of children, Police in Lumbadzi has urged primary school students to report to police all various forms of abuse and child rights violations they encounter during their studies.
The call was made on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at Lumbadzi Primary School during Safe Schools orientations the station organised for the students, teachers and school committee members.
The station’s community policing coordinator, Inspector Jane Mkangala said the orientations will help in equipping the participants on safe school initiatives especially in areas of crime prevention, response and referral units, such as community welfare officers, health care workers and others when a crime has occurred at the school.
Mkangala urged Safe Schools initiative committee members to work hand in hand with police and other relevant stakeholders in preventing crimes in schools and protect learners from being abused by their teachers and fellow students physically, sexually, psychologically and emotionally.
On his part, the station’s operations officer Superintendent Harry Chimombo highlited on the need for safe schools committee members to involve Parents Teachers Association (PTA) members, mother group members and students’ leadership in order to win the fight against child rights violations.
Police has introduced Standard Operating Procedures in handling violation of children’s rights among others by putting complaint boxes in primary schools where scholars are given opportunity to report various forms of abuse and violations anonymously.
“The complaint boxes placed in schools should not be taken as neither a threat nor a witch hunting tool, but as a child rights promoting material,” said Mkangala.
Lumbadzi Primary School deputy headteacher Mercy Kwenje, PTA chairperson Alex Kayiwe and mother group chairperson Mary Gondwe hailed the police for introducing the safe schools initiative which will help uncover and prevent crime and hidden forms of abuses faced by learners.
Sergeant Felix Kwinyani Lumbadzi Police Public Relations Officer
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