Campaign Representative
Today is 16 June , a day when we commemorate hundreds of young people who have died in search of freedom. Before, this day was commemorated as “Soweto day” in South Africa, but as a signed support of our liberation African governments embraced this day as the “Day of the African Child” signalling the unity of Africa.
It is within this principle of Unity that partners of Terre des Homes gathered over a period of three years to explore a unified action to combat child abuse. The partners of Terre des Homes representing organisations from Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa have committed themselves to facilitate a programme of action for children on issues of Trafficking of Children for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Abuse.
In 1992, when Molo Songololo hosted a Children’s Summit one of the delegates, when asked by a journalist what this event meant for him, he responded, “I cannot look at my rights without taking into account the rights of my parents and then the rights of my community. Furthermore, the rights of children the world over should be considered as well” Today, the children of Mozambique have echoed that sentiment and speaking on behalf of the children of the African continent have taken the responsibility not only to express themselves but also to participate in addressing the problem of Child Abuse.
On behalf of Terre des Homes working committee of Child Abuse, I salute the children of Mozambique and am pleased to have been part of the official launch of this campaign.