Children’s issues are vital: CPI

International Children’s Day was celebrated yesterday with a plea that all responsible sectors must work together for an integrated and holistic approach to effectively address children’s issues in the province and the country.
Spokesman and member of Crime Prevention Initiative (CPI) of East New Britain Patrick Kaupun said many organisations look at addressing issues at a broader perspective and tend to forget about the children’s issues.
“Children’s issues are inadequately addressed by those responsible sectors and so real term benefits in the livelihood of these future leaders both in the province and in the country as a whole cannot be noticed,” he said.
“There are lots of gaps yet to be filled by the different concerned organisations but yet they have turned a blind eye on the children.”
He stressed that in order to address social issues in the community; children’s issues must be addressed first.
He said the CPI had set up awareness programmes in schools, villages and communities for children on road safety tips, HIV/AIDS, home brew and illicit drugs.
Ruby Matane, a member of the committee also supported her colleague and said children were valued as assets of the country.
She said CPI was taking a leading role in creating a safety home for children, working together with the police and developmental agencies and engaging children in other programmes such as providing opportunities for them to make money and sustain their living.
She said children needed to grow up in a home free of crime and appealed to those responsible to stop being negligent, because of our neglect and no-care attitude, “we are not helping our children”.
The committee wished every child happy celebrations and said the children must be valued with pride, dignity and as future leaders of this country.