Children urged to report all forms of abuse

Ho, June 30, GNA - Mr Edwin Gamadeku, Volta Regional Director of the Department of Children on Tuesday urged children who have suffered any form of abuse to report such abuses to their parents and the Police.

“You will not die when you report such cases, but rather be helped to regain your confidence,” he assured children.

Mr Gamadeku stated this at a debate organized by the Department for selected schools in the Ho Township to commemorate the regional celebration of this year's African Union Day of the African Child.

The debate was on the topic, “The Right of the Child to Survival is the Sole Responsibility of the Parents.”

Kabore Junior High School which argued against the motion won by 63.5 points to beat Dora Memorial Junior High School which had 57.0 points for the motion.

All the debaters were presented with certificates.

Mr Gamadeku lamented about the upsurge in child sexual harassment in recent times.

He observed that children were often sexually harassed by people whom they trusted and were very close to, at schools, homes and the communities and advised such children to muster courage and report those cases for assistance.

Mr Gamadeku noted that families often swept many of such cases under the carpet with the excuse of protecting the family's image, at the expense of the traumatized children.

He commended the government for interventions aimed at ensuring proper development of children, and urged other stakeholders to support government for the good of the nation's children.

GNA