Issa Yusuf in Zanzibar
IN
an effort to raise awareness and lobby for tougher laws to protect
children, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports has used this year’s
‘Zanzibar Cultural Festival’ to intensify national Stop Child Abuse
campaign in the Islands.
Addressing a gathering at the beginning of the week-long annual festival, several speakers pointed out that many children here continue to be exploited and abused by the people who should be protecting them.
“Every responsible person should campaign to break the silence on child abuse,” they said.
The Minister for Information, Tourism and Antiquities, Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, presiding over as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony that began on July 19 and would stretch to 25, 2018, on behalf of the Second Vice-President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, said that abuse of children was still prevalent in the society, especially in homes, adding: “Violence against children especially sexual violence is often shrouded in secrecy and this hampers ongoing efforts to stop it by punishing perpetrators through legal procedures.”
He said the cultural festival provides opportunities to increase awareness and open discussions on issues including sexual abuse, early marriages, child labour, child trafficking and early marriages as well as harmful cultural practices which continue to deny children their rights to education and a healthy childhood.
On her side, the Deputy Minister for Youth, Culture, and Sports, Ms Lulu Msham Abdalla, viewed the increase in cases of child rape and sexual exploitation in the Islands as being contributed by moral decay in the society, and ignoring conserving practice the citizens’ culture, which include protection of children rights.
Ms Abdalla said: “Let us join together, practice and promote our culture and heritage, because many people including tourists still admire Zanzibar culture and hospitality. Everyone has a role to play; we must say ‘stop child abuse’ and mean it.
” This year’s 23rd Cultural Festival under the theme “Culture is a shield to social development” included several traditional activities such as Mwaka-Kogwa which was graced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa last Wednesday, traditional dances, and arts and crafts made in Zanzibar.
Addressing a gathering at the beginning of the week-long annual festival, several speakers pointed out that many children here continue to be exploited and abused by the people who should be protecting them.
“Every responsible person should campaign to break the silence on child abuse,” they said.
The Minister for Information, Tourism and Antiquities, Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, presiding over as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony that began on July 19 and would stretch to 25, 2018, on behalf of the Second Vice-President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, said that abuse of children was still prevalent in the society, especially in homes, adding: “Violence against children especially sexual violence is often shrouded in secrecy and this hampers ongoing efforts to stop it by punishing perpetrators through legal procedures.”
He said the cultural festival provides opportunities to increase awareness and open discussions on issues including sexual abuse, early marriages, child labour, child trafficking and early marriages as well as harmful cultural practices which continue to deny children their rights to education and a healthy childhood.
On her side, the Deputy Minister for Youth, Culture, and Sports, Ms Lulu Msham Abdalla, viewed the increase in cases of child rape and sexual exploitation in the Islands as being contributed by moral decay in the society, and ignoring conserving practice the citizens’ culture, which include protection of children rights.
Ms Abdalla said: “Let us join together, practice and promote our culture and heritage, because many people including tourists still admire Zanzibar culture and hospitality. Everyone has a role to play; we must say ‘stop child abuse’ and mean it.
” This year’s 23rd Cultural Festival under the theme “Culture is a shield to social development” included several traditional activities such as Mwaka-Kogwa which was graced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa last Wednesday, traditional dances, and arts and crafts made in Zanzibar.
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