Nhau News Online News that is accurate, reliable, trustworthy!!
The Swedish government has disbursed US$5.8 million towards helping the Zimbabwe government fight rampant child exploitation in the country.
The grant has been disbursed through UNICEF which will administer it through its child protection fund programmes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at her official residence in Harare on Monday, Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Asa Pehrson said the grant was appropriate in a country that continues to experience forms of child exploitation.
“Sweden believes that an efficient protection is essential to the children’s wellbeing because, as vulnerable people, they are more exposed to issues of mistreatment, exploitation, discrimination and violence,” ambassador Pehrson said.
The Swedish diplomat also said, “Sweden believes that an efficient protection is essential to the children’s wellbeing because as vulnerable people, they are more exposed to issues of mistreatment exploitation, discrimination and violence and we hold that whatever the circumstances, all children should enjoy the right to family life and to grow up in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding where they are nurtured and protected.”
Also speaking at the same event, UNICEF Country Representative to Zimbabwe Dr Tajudeen Oyewale expressed gratitude towards the Swedish government for the grant.
He added, “This funding is crucial as it will allow us to sustain gains and advance protection systems for children.
“The strategic focus is to strengthen national capacity to advance the national case management system for the protection and welfare of children in Zimbabwe.
“To do this, we will have direct support through the ministry (of social welfare) and several partners in the different child protection pathways.
“We shall prioritise in addition to what we currently do, the focus and integration of issues like mental health and psychosocial services to the child protection programme.
“We will bring a lot of focus to adolescents, the implication and protection issues for children on the move; we will also bring focus to child labour and civic registration systems and how climate change impact on children while we will not drop the ball on children with disabilities.”
Dr Oyewale also chronicled the many child protection programmes that have been implemented by UNICEF under funds that have been availed by Sweden before.
Speaking through Tawanda Zimhunga – his director for social welfare – Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima described child exploitation as a “pandemic” as he also chronicled the many programmes the Zimbabwe government has put in place towards child protection.
“The support rendered today will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children particularly those who are marginalised and vulnerable,” he said.
He added that government was alive to the need to protect children as witnessed in several laws and domestication of international conventions aimed towards the cause.
The event was attended by representatives from various development partners and representatives from Zimbabwe’s civil society.
Funding will support different key interventions to protect children against violence, abuse, and exploitation.
Almost two out of every three children experience some form of violent discipline.
Nearly one third of children as young as 5 up to 17 years are working. Of them, more than one out of ten working under hazardous conditions.
One in three girls under 18 experience sexual violence leading to teen pregnancy and early marriage. 21% of girls aged 15-18 are married or in unions. ZimLive
