Karonga Diocese Steps Up Child Rights Safeguarding
By Princess Temwa Kamanga
As one way of ensuring protection of children’s rights, the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has oriented its employees and those working in its institutions on the safeguarding policy.
After one of the orientation sessions organized for primary school teachers at St Mary’s Boys Primary School, the diocesan Pastoral Secretary, Father Joseph Sikwese said it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that children’s rights are protected, at all cost, from all forms of violence regardless of the age of the child.
According to Fr. Sikwese, violence of different forms occurs to children in all communities but people take it as a way of life which should not be the case.
“The main purpose of training is to tell and teach all those working in the institutions of the diocese to know the evils and implications that come after violating a child’s rights. They should work with children without complicating their wellbeing because children are human beings and need not to live in fear”, explained Fr Sikwese.
In his remarks, Karonga Diocese Desk Officer for Justice and Peace Mr. Louis Nkhata said the project targets all Catholic institutions to make sure all rights are protected for the wellbeing of the children as well as employees.
“As a diocese, we will make sure everyone working in this diocese and in our schools is protected to end violence and ensure that children are projected”, added Nkhata.
One of the teachers at St Mary’s Boys Primary School, Pachani Vitowe Kaonga, commended the Diocese for the policy which she said will assist her in handling children and see to it that their rights are protected at school.
At the end of the training, teachers signed the code of conduct for safeguarding children. A similar exercise has been done in all schools, parishes and institutions under the Diocese of Karonga.