By ZACHERY PER
OVER 2,000 children last Tuesday took to the streets of Goroka town as they called for the protection of their rights and an end to violence against children. The exercise was the annual Children’s Day celebration.
The children began their march from Peace Park, through the main streets of Goroka town before converging at the National park where speeches and drama were presented to highlight the importance of children’s rights and for violence against children to be end.
Eastern Highlands provincial chairman for community development Ivan Ano said children were gifts of God and were very important assets of the country.
He said the rights of children must be protected at all times to enable them to grow in love and in caring environment.
Goroka district administrator Bill Kavanamur, who also spoke, stressed the importance of children’s rights condemned on incest and sexual violence which was often reported in the media.
“Sexual violence against children was rife in remote areas many that occur in urban areas were never reported,” he said.
He said if PNG was to grow, people should join in the concerted effort to end all forms of violence against children.
Young Vanessa Guguba speaking on behalf of the children called on the adults to respect the children and help to rid all forms of violence against them.
She called on every parent to advocate the best education for their children and feed them properly and avoid child labour and abuse.
The occasion was funded by Unicef with K15,000 and supported by Save the Children’s FundPNG (SCiPNG), Family Voice Inc and was coordinated by Eastern Highlands Provincial community development division.