 | More World Vision Links
|
|
Children advocate for eradication of HIV and AIDS and child abuse
By Makopano Letsatsi on 31 Jul 2007
Children from all nine Area Development Programs of World Vision Lesotho gathered in the capital, Maseru recently to say enough is enough regarding HIV and AIDS and child abuse.
Speaking during the World Vision national children’s conference held at Lesotho National Convention Center, the president of World Vision national children’s committee, Moeketsi Nkopa said children of Lesotho are tired and concerned about the escalating rate of HIV and AIDS in Lesotho that cause deaths among youngparents and leave children as orphans.
Some 266,000 people are HIV-positive in Lesotho. Women make up 149,000 of the number. Since 1991, HIV infection rates increased from 2 percent, to 23.3 percent in 2005, according to the Lesotho National AIDS commission.
Nkopa, who is also the president of the children’s committee in Nthabiseng ADP, said orphans in Lesotho face various challenges particularly physically, emotionally and the worse experience is sexual abuse.
“The government and other institutions have been working so hard to develop strategies to eradicate HIV and AIDS and child abuse but these problems are still continuing in all parts of the country.”
Nkopa said unless children participate in formulation of strategies of the things that involve them, there would never be a lasting solution.
Minister of gender, youths and sports creation, Mrs. Mathabiso Lepono challenged representatives of children’s committees from the nine ADPs to use their knowledge of child rights and responsibilities to educate other children in their respective areas.
“I was a proud mother and minister to see ‘Basotho’ (vulnerable) children are aware not only about their rights but also their responsibilities,” said Lepono. She urged them not only to preach about their responsibilities of making the right choices to prevent them from HIV but they should live by example and be role models of other children in their villages.
UNICEF representative, Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique was deeply touched to see Basotho children reclaiming their rights and discussing their rights as well as their responsibilities. “In my Pakistani culture we have a saying ‘if a child does not cry, we don’t feed him’ therefore it is vital for children to claim their rights in order to be able to enjoy them.”
“With empowered children like these, Lesotho could overcome the challenges of HIV and AIDS as well as child abuse,” said Shafique.
World Vision Lesotho Ministry Quality Director, Mrs. Mamohau Mokoena said the World Vision Lesotho advocacy for eradication of HIV and AIDS and child abuse will not end at the convention center. World Vision will work hand in hand with the national children’s committee to support their advocacy until they reach parliamentary leaders.
Mokoena said the children’s conference was an eye opener for many adults who grew up unaware of children’s rights. Children’s messages have challenged adults to change and ensure child participation by involving children in decision making.
World Vision Lesotho’s advocacy and child welfare unit organised the national children’s conference, the first of its kind in the country. Prior the conference the ADP children’s committees elected the national children’s committee of nine members, one representing each ADP.
Other non-government organisations have requested World Vision include children from the three districts where World Vision is not represented to ensure the national children’s committee represents children from all parts of the country. World Vision Lesotho is looking for children’s representative from other NGOs in the capital to partner with ADP children to make the national committee more representable and more active.
Participants at the conference were ADP children, and children from other institutions, stakeholders working with children such as social welfare, master of the high court, probation unit, the police gender and child protection unit, UNICEF, the office of the first lady and World Vision.
| Current Attachments: |
| There are no attachments on this document. |
|
|