Rabaul district education praised for awareness on child abuse

A SENIOR education official has commended the Rabaul district education for initiating the first public speaking awareness programme which highlighted child abuse and violence against children.
Education Department assistant secretary for guidance Philip So’on said Papua New Guinea was experiencing an increase in violence and abuse against children.
He said teachers and parents were often the main perpetrators of violence against children.
Children were constantly abused physically, mentally and sexually and at times not protected by people who supposed to protect them.
So’on said violence against children had been reported in many schools around the country because people had no respect for the rights of children.
The one-day public speaking programme at Rabaul market was attended by students from elementary, primary and secondary schools in Rabaul district.
So’on said such awareness and education would change the way we deal with children in terms of abusing their rights.