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PADARE message on the day of the African Child
PADARE
June 16, 2009

The PADARE/Enkun dleni Men's Forum joins the young people, the nation and the International Community in celebrating the day of the African child. This year's commemorations are running under the theme," Africa fit for children: Call for accelerated efforts towards their survival".

This theme comes in the wake of challenges that Zimbabwean young people are continuously subjected to all sorts of abuse and negligence. The Day of the African Child is celebrated on June 16 in recognition of thousands of black school children in Soweto, South Africa, who took to the streets to protest the inferior quality of their education and to demand the right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot and killed and more than 1,000 injured. As we reflect on the 1976 Soweto uprisings that saw the mass killings of innocent young South Africans, we need to take stock of where our children stand and how far we have gone as a people in protecting our children from all sorts of abuse.

Children continue to be at the receiving end of sexual abuse as well as gender-based violence in families, schools and communities. PADARE/Enkundleni / Men's Forum on Gender notes with sad regret that patriarchal attitudes and beliefs continue to widen the gap between boys and girls. The state needs to be mindful as a nation to the hardships that the Zimbabwean child faces in accessing education and security at household level, to thrive for a better future and continue to the betterment of this country. This cannot continue any longer. We call upon African governments in general and the Zimbabwean government in particular to ensure that gender friendly legislation and statutes are put in place to protect the life and well being of the young people especially children. It is in this regard that we call upon the Child protection Act to be implemented in its entirety.

There is still a lot that needs to be done to improve the welfare of the young people. As Zimbabwe embarks upon its recovery initiative, the Government needs to prioritize on the young people. With unemployment estimated at 90%, HIV/AIDS prevalence rates at 15.1%, many children out of school and the involvement of young people in democracy and governance issues limited, the challenge lies with the young people to be proactive and claim their space as well as inculcating a culture of discipline amongst themselves.

There is more that needs to be done so as to realize the goals, visions and aspirations of the young people that have been epitomized by the struggles fought by the South African young boys and girls which are shared by many within the broader youth fraternity.

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