Judge calls for efforts to address violence perpetrators

BUKOBA: AS cases of violence against children keep on escalating in the country, Bukoba High Court in-charge, Judge Immaculata Banzi has advised parents, teachers and other members of the public to be closer to their children so as to reduce sexual violence and increasing child-to-child abuses.

Equally, she appealed to family members to take necessary steps to safeguard the welfare of children and ensure that they get proper upbringing from the grassroots, including enrolling them in school.

She explained that parents monitoring their children or being closer to them will help to minimise risks of abuse. “It is clear that there are irresponsible adults who are perpetrators, but the good parents and guardians should have the culture of following up, listening and being close to children.

“Being close to children can help them in various ways, especially being opened when abused. Isolating them can lead to psychological harm, depression, disability and suicide,” she said.

Adding….”When child-to-child abuse happens, parents should not remain silent. Instead, they should consult legal authorities to address the problem including providing counselling therapy to the victims.

Judge Banzi explained that the government was committed to ensuring that acts of violence against children are brought to an end, thus calling for joint efforts from all stakeholders to end the vice.

“Data also indicate that cases of violence against children are escalating in the country including Kagera region. Leaders including District Commissioners (DCs) in the eight councils should leave their offices to ensure that acts of violence against children are brought under control,” she said.

She also advised the Social Welfare department to continue with a public awareness campaign to ensure that members of the community, including children learn self-protection and safety measures.

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“Some of the children were neglected, forcing them to live in streets begging, while others were not attending school and some of them were raped. Investigations revealed that major perpetrators include relatives and neighbors,” she said.

Adding: ” Several studies show that 60 per cent of acts of violence against children occur at home. The studies further reveal that those who commit acts of violence are family members.

The highest challenge of dealing with violence against children is the silence and the habit of resolving and ending cases clandestinely at family level,” she hinted.

Child-on-child abuse is defined as inappropriate behaviours between children that are abusing in nature including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and all forms of bullying between children and young people, both on and offline.

Child-on-child abuse is harmful to both the perpetrator and the victim. Thus, efforts should be directed to help children, parents and guardians understand how to deal with abuse and protect children, she said.

Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 6: states…. parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse.