Chisala Advises Girls To Reject Sexual Advances By Men

Gender deputy minister Obvious Chisala has advised girls to reject any sexual advances by men and boys.
In a speech read on his behalf by Chibombo district commissioner Felix Mang’wato at the Child Welfare Day organised by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) in Malambanyama on Friday, Chisala bemoaned the drastic increase in the number of girls dropping out of school after falling pregnant.
He further bemoaned the increase in the number of early and forced marriages, the abuse of drugs and alcohol among children as well as child neglect in the country.
“These vices impact negatively on our children by denying them proper childhood. This is not supposed to be the case as children are the building blocks of any nation,” he said.
Chisala called for concerted efforts from parents, guardians and stakeholders in ensuring that children’s rights to survival, protection and development are safeguarded at all costs.
And Chisala urged children, stakeholders and parents to appreciate the critical role of education in shaping the future of the nation.
“It is therefore important that we invest in the education of our boys and girls as this will also assist in breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty,” he said.
He further urged children to refrain from vices which would hinder them from achieving their goals in education.
“To the girls in particular, I advise you to say no to any sexual advances from men and boys and do not hesitate to report to your parents, guardians and other relevant authorities in instances where your rights are violated,” Chisala said.
He said the government would remain committed in the protection and promotion of children’s rights.
Chisala said the government’s commitment was manifested in the ratification of important human rights treaties on children such as the Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC).
Chisala said the government was reviewing policies on gender and child development to take on board emerging issues in gender and child development such as child marriages, teenage pregnancies, child defilement and streetism, among others.
“Government will remain committed in achieving the recent commencement of the review of the education curriculum to include sexual reproductive health as a way of addressing especially teenage pregnancies which have taken a toll in the nation,” he said.
He said the government was doing everything possible to facilitate the attainment of a child-friendly, quality, free and compulsory education.
DAPP managing director Elise Soerensen said the organisation was running a child welfare programme which focused on alleviating hardships orphaned, vulnerable and street children faced in various communities in Zambia by providing quality education to them.
She said the programme was reaching out to over 500,000 vulnerable children in 12 districts in Zambia.
“Development Aid from People to People has been running this programme with adequate supported from the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health,” she said.
Soerensen added that DAPP was also running Children’s Town Centre situated in Malambanyama in Chibombo district as part of the child welfare programme.
“The centre provides a three-year rehabilitation programme, basic education from grades seven to nine and skills training for former street children picked from various parts of the country. We support these children to help them develop into progressive and productive adults,” said Soerensen. At the same function, DAPP Children’s Town Centre project director Imasiku Sitali said the main objective of the project was to build up the capacity of the child to avoid crime, violence, drugs and to develop their creative and productive potential to learn and work socially with others.
DAPP organised the Child Welfare Day celebrations ahead of the Day of the African Child to be commemorated tomorrow under the theme, ‘A child-friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa’.
-By Justinah Mukuka