A Child Rights activist and Legal Officer of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs. Mary Nartey, has advised children to report child abusers to the Police or any other authority to reduce the incidence of child abuse.
Speaking at a forum for pupils of AWOPEDEC Social School at Teshie in Accra, Mrs. Nartey reminded the children of their role in curbing child abuse since it impedes their development and disrupts their education which guarantees them a promising future.
She mentioned some of the forms of child abuse as hard labor, female genital mutilation, child trafficking and forced marriage and asked the pupils to help the authorities fight these abuses, adding that it takes their collaboration to achieve results.
Mrs. Nartey assured them of protection from the law when they report such abuses, reminding them of the fact that the law becomes ineffective without the active participation of all. “You can confide in your teachers, religious leaders and adults you can trust if you are subjected to any form of child abuse,” she stated. The Legal Officer, however, warned them against laziness especially when they are asked to undertake household chores like washing of dishes and their clothes which are their duties at home.
She said education, sensitization, regulations and reporting of abusers are the major means of tackling this social menace.
The forum forms part of the school’s regular programmes to educate the pupils on social issues that border on child and human rights.
The Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Edwina Okuadjo-Okai, encouraged the pupils to take every lesson serious since they all contribute to building them into responsible leaders in society.
AWOPEDEC Social School offers fee-free education to the under-privileged and needy pupils in deprived communities in Teshie and surrounding areas.
Source: GhanaWeb
