Compassion International Togo celebrate African Child

Compassion International Togo (CITG) celebrated the Day of the African Child on Tuesday June 16 at its headquarters. This celebration aims to raise awareness among governments and public opinion leaders on the need to take care of children through the promotion of their rights.

Placed under the theme: “COVID 19, the issue of domestic violence and its impacts on children”, the 2020 edition of this celebration has helped to raise awareness among leaders of Churches partnering with Compassion International Togo on the need to raise awareness on the situation of children in this time of restrictions on the one hand and to offer alternatives for positive discipline in this period of Coronavirus pandemic.

This was an opportunity for Ms. Kama-Djonna Akoura, Director of Prevention of Vulnerable Situations at the General Directorate of Child Protection (GDCP) to share the situation of child abuse in Togo before and during the Covid-19 pandemic and the actions of the government with the participants of the Videoconference.

As for Dr. Jacques Toko, Child Protection Specialist at CITG, confinement would be an additional factor of violence on children because of parents are stressed, but also because parents spend more time at home with their children.

According to Ms. Kama-Djonna Akoura, 152 cases of violence were recorded during this period of the Coronavirus pandemic. Such violence includes sexual and physical abuse.

As soon as the first case of violence was identified, the Ministry proceeded to strengthen its awareness-raising structures targeting families and the media in order to provide children with better protection.

As a reminder, this day is held in memory of the hundreds of South African children massacred on June 16, 1976 during a march for their rights in Soweto under the apartheid regime.

Operating since 2008 in Togo, the NGO Compassion International is a powerful tool in the fight against poverty. It works in the field of child protection and is active in the maritime, Plateaux, Central, Kara and Savannah regions.

The organization’s strategic actions are oriented towards the establishment of partnerships with churches, opening of Child Development Centers (CDC/Y), reinforcing the capacity of church partners, strengthening partnerships, child protection and especially child advocacy.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)