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Chisomo Children’s Club Executive Director Nelson Mkandawire has asked the Ministry of Gender to speed up processes to ratify the policy on orphans and vulnerable children, saying the delay has restricted the work of NGOs which assist the children.
Mkandawire was speaking in Blantyre on Saturday during an open day for the vulnerable children held under the theme: “We have potential like other children, help us reach our independence. Share personal experience.”
“As organisations, to some extent, we have not done some matters due to legal limitations. In 2001 a policy on orphans and vulnerable children was drafted through the Ministry of Gender, but up to now this important document is not yet ratified,” said Mkandawire.
Street children and orphans are being abused in the country in form of child labour, family violence, sexual abuse, homosexuality, corporal punishments in schools, early marriages and child trafficking, according to Mkandawire.
In his speech, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Henderson Mabeti, who was guest of honour, condemned people who take advantage of vulnerable people by abusing them physically, sexually and economically.
He called on all people to treat vulnerable children with love and care, saying the children, like any other person, were not born by mistake.
Mabeti, who officially handed over jerseys donated to Chisomo Children’s Club by Manchester United Football Club of the United Kingdom, also urged individuals, companies and the donor community to support in cash and kind efforts by organisations taking care of vulnerable children in the country.
During the open day, about 500 street children and orphans participated in drama, music, soccer and other games. On Friday the children tidied up the city by sweeping refuse along Masauko Chipembere Highway.
The activities were aimed at raising awareness to the public that the vulnerable children too are as capable of doing anything as those who have got parents, according to Child Rights and Advocacy coordinator for Chisomo Children’s Club, Eunice Chimpoyo-Banda.
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