Ahamansu (O/R), Feb. 3, GNA – Mr Isaac Robson Klu, the Kadjebi District Director, Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has urged the public to help protect children from neglect, violence, abuse and discrimination.
He said it was wrong to mishandle any child on the grounds of race, age, religion, disability, health status, custom, ethnic origin, rural or urban background, birth or socio-economic status based on age.
Rather, parents ought to create safe, non-violent, non-discriminatory and clear anti-bullying environment for the child to achieve his or her full potential, he said.
Mr Klu said this at a child protection sensitisation programme at Ahamansu in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region.
He appealed to parents to endeavour to provide their children’s basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing and medical care.
Mr Klu said even though the 1992 Constitution had made adequate provisions for the protection of children’s rights such as the right to free and compulsory education, right to non-discrimination, and right to adequate infrastructure, they were not taken seriously and their implementation had become problematic.
He cautioned irresponsible fathers to mend their ways adding that the Department would deal appropriately with fathers who shirked their responsibility.
Rev. Simon Atie, a Child Protection Committee member, bemoaned the rising cases of drug abuse among students in the area and called on parents, school authorities and the security agencies to help curb it.
GNA