Monrovia – At least three eminent child rights advocacy groups have joined calls for the protection of Liberian kids.
The rights groups — African Network for the Prevention of and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Defense for Children International (DCI) and Special Emergency Activity to Restore Children’s Hope (SEARCH) — joint call comes following the recent revelation of teenage girls being abused at a home, which was meant to protect them from such exploitation.
In a position statement by the child rights coalition on ending violence against children, over the weekend, SEARCH executive director Sondah Geepea Wilson, DCI executive director
While these child rights organizations are of the view that quality education is the best development tool that has the potential to improve the wellbeing of children, they, however, detest the manner and form in which the good intention of More Than Me (MTM) Academy program in rescuing vulnerable children from the streets and providing an alternative via education was manipulated at the detriment of the very children.
They warned that if what allegedly happened at MTM goes with impunity, it will serve as a breeding ground for more excesses on the rights of children in Liberia.
“The Coalition thinks that all those who directly participated or had knowledge surrounding the exploitation of the girls but failed to take actions in preventing and responding to the systemic abuse must be held accountable in keeping with the Laws of Liberia,” the coalition said, adding that it should include MTM’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kattie Meyler.
The Child Rights Coalition on Ending Violence against Children’s observation comes in the wake of the documentary “UNPROTECTED” which was recently circulated by the United States-based ProPublica and Times Magazine detailing a very distasteful account of vulnerable Liberian girls being sexually abused at the MTM Academy while in the pursuit of education and protection.
They reminded everyone that the Liberian Constitution provides for the protection of fundamental rights of all persons including children while Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 27 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 3 of The Children Law of Liberia, Chapter 6 of Teachers Code of Conduct, the Anti-Rape Law and the UN Secretary Bulletin Zero Tolerance against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse provide protection for children against all forms of sexual violence.
The group is concerned that measures must be taken for the continued safety and education of the children who are enrolled at MTM Academy and the Ministry of Education schools they operate on one hand, while on the other, a clear road map must be provided on how those kids who dropped out of school due to the sexual violence meted against them will continue to be cared for and supported in school.
The Coalition being cognizant that the issue of HIV/AIDS is a sensitive one and requires the highest degree of confidentiality to avoid stigmatization, the survivors that were violated by Macintosh Johnson must be traced, tested and those being positive must be provided regular treatment, counselling, supplementary feeding, family and community support.
While the Coalition is aware that poverty is a stubborn factor in beating vulnerable households and communities into submission at their own expense, parents should not renege on their parenting role in providing guidance by having regular healthy conversation with their children and investigate further concerns from them in addressing some early warning signs. The community too should at all times provide unflinching support to abused children and their families so that perpetrators would not be protected by the same community where they violate children.
They reminded the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministries of Education, Health and Justice, that it has the greatest responsibility in providing education, health, protection and justice for all children of Liberia and as such, should not lose sight of such responsibility even in the midst of being complemented.
“Against this backdrop, the Coalition calls on the Government of Liberia to take practical steps in strengthening monitoring and supervision of schools and child protection agencies, ensure quality control, reinvigorate the Social Protection Unit at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection so that it will address some of the pressing needs of vulnerable communities and households by engaging in empowerment programs in improving livelihood as a preventive mechanism against sexual exploitation and abuse,” they said in their statement.