Blantyre registers 3 000 cases of violence against children

Blantyre District Social Welfare officer Stephano Joseph says the district registers 3 000 cases of violence against children every year.

He said this on Saturday during a training of district and sub-district structures on child protection organised by Art and Global Health Centre Africa (ArtGlo).

Joseph said the district registers different forms of abuse and violence against children such as sexual exploitation, neglect, forced marriages and child trafficking.

He commended ArtGlo for implementing different interventions in the district, especially in traditional authorities (T/A) Kuntaja and Machinjiri to help reduce cases of violence against children.

“We assure the organisation that the knowledge we have acquired we will be instrumental in protecting children against abuse,” said Joseph.

On his part, T/A Machinjiri clerk Winiko Jonas said the organisation has helped to raise awareness on children’s rights in the area.

“People are able to report to relevant authorities when they hear or witness violence against children,” he said.

ArtGlo youth and community engagement manager Lekodi Magombo said there is need to empower stakeholders to protect children from various forms of abuse.

“We also want to ensure that cases of violence against children are taken to court,” he said.

ArtGlo is a non-governmental organisation which strives in catalysing citizen action to drive change and influence decision-making in child rights protection.