MEDIA NETWORK CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

By Victor Kanguya

Child defilement is rapidly taking root in our country like a malignant cancer. Just as cancerous cells multiply uncontrollably, destroying healthy tissue. Child Sexual Abuse in Zambia is eating away the moral fibre of our society and destroying childhood innocence in the process.

The Media Network on Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) with support from Firelight Foundation recently held a Bus Campaign against Child Sexual Abuse in Kafue and Mazabuka. MNCRD decided to hold a Bus Campaign in the two Districts (Kafue and Mazabuka) owing to the high number of child sexual abuse cases reported in the two areas.

Mazabuka with about 288,000 inhabitants has recently recorded a rise in the number of defilement cases. Speaking during an interview with the Children’s News Agency, MNCRD Executive Director, Mr Henry Kabwe said the Campaign was meant to sensitise the public about child sexual abuse in Kafue and Mazabuka districts. He further said the organisation carried along a team of journalists in order to facilitate the coverage of the Campaign.

The Campaign provided an opportunity for the public to express their views and air concerns. “The response was overwhelming, we had people coming over to find out more about child sexual abuse”, Mr Kabwe said. “We also had people coming through giving information about certain cases where the police had not made follow up”, he went on to say.

Despite the introduction of stiffer laws such as the increase of the minimum sentence for any person convicted of defilement to 15 years, the country still continues to grapple with child sexual abuse.

The statistics released by the Zambia Police for 2011, indicate that cases of child sexual abuse hit 1,939, with only 511 going through legal procedure 66 withdrawn and 329 still under study. The statistics above are a true representation of the situation on the ground and this should be evidence enough to bring everyone on board in order to fight this crisis.

Child sexual abuse is a subject that should be of concern to every Zambian. There is need to join hands in finding solutions to this problem and organisations such as MNCRD need to be supported for undertaking a Campaign of this nature, as the wellbeing and development of any child should be the most important for every Zambian. - The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.