Opinion / Columnist
The Day of the African Child Commemorations: My Personal views?
08 Jun 2016 at 15:25hrs | Views
The struggle is far from over! Rather we are still in the tunnel and light is still far from sight. No solution in sight! Realisation of children's rights is still a pipe dream given the extent of atrocities being committed against children in African countries that are experiencing conflicts and crises. This is an apt description of the situation of children's rights in many African societies.
As a favoured African and proud Zimbabwean, a Social Worker for that matter, I am greatly excited to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and cross-pollinate ideas on the situation of children in Africa today. I am bound by my passion to serve children, see children enjoying their rights to the fullest, protecting children to enhance their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development and above all to prepare the future leaders to be responsible in adulthood. I am extremely humbled to share my views on the contemporary challenges of the African child in the midst of plenty.
On Thursday 16 June 2016, Zimbabwe will join the rest of the continent in commemorating the Day of the African Child, whose theme is, "Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting All Children's Rights."
To begin with, I wish to acknowledge my reservations with the theme for the Day of the African Child commemorations. The theme in my view portrays Africa as a continent in conflict and crisis. It portrays a sad picture of African countries entrenched in conflicts and crisis. In my view, the theme perpetuates the iniquitous view of Africa as a dark continent. It does paint a picture of the whole continent in Mfecane, "time of trouble." It portrays Africa as a continent not fit for children. Above all it is not in touch with the African discourse of child rights with responsibilities.
To me, many African countries have shown great commitment at least by signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Welfare and Rights of the Child. I am sure only one country in Africa is still to ratify the UNCRC, that is, South Sudan. It shows great commitment to the letter and spirit of ensuring children have access to and enjoy their rights. However, I need to point out that if the spirit of signing and ratifying the conventions was the same spirit that is put into action in implementing the provisions of the conventions, Africa could be way ahead of many continents in the world. However, reality on the ground points to an undesirable and unimaginable ignominy. We are only good in ratifying conventions and protocols. More often than not, those conventions and protocols gather dust on the shelves without being implemented. Perhaps, it is because we lack resources to fulfil the obligations enshrined in the conventions. I must of course acknowl
edge that this view must not be an umbrella view to African countries. Some countries have recorded great strides in ensuring that children have access to and enjoy their rights within the limits of the resources available to them. Countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, among others have made great strides in ensuring that children have access to and enjoy their rights.
Conflicts in some few African countries has become perennial and the order of the day. It has become fashionable to have some African countries in conflicts. It is now in the blood stream of many to live and to wage war in their own countries. It is has become fashionable for some African leaders to preside over wars and civil unrest in their countries. In the midst of conflicts who bears the brunt of suffering? It is innocent children who bears the brunt of suffering due to conflicts and crisis. Children are raped, maimed, tortured and even conscripted into armies for wars that they do not understand. Child soldier phenomenon is a cause for concern. Blatant violation of children's rights is the order of the day. Parents are killed in the presence of children resulting in emotional torture. Conflicts are resulting in loss of property and cultural identity in case of children being forced to seek international protection as refugees. Basic rights of children are undermined. Children drop out of school due to conflicts and crisis. Right to education is undermined much to the perpetuation of underdevelopment of the continent. There is loss of life. Conflicts result in violation of children's rights to life and survival, development, right to food, right to participation and related rights are grossly violated in conflicts. Violation of children's rights is a crime against humanity. Children's rights are sacred. This is the situation of children in Mali, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan and other countries in the continent where there are conflicts and crisis. The situation of children leaves a lot to be desired. Children's rights are being abused daily. Children are paying the prize for being vulnerable.
It is important to pose hard and penetrating questions on conflicts in Africa.
What are the conflicts for? Why having these never ending conflicts? Who is benefiting from these conflicts? Why fighting first and negotiate later? Why sacrificing the lives of innocent children? Why our children? What crime did our children commit?
A cursory audit and helicopter assessment on conflicts in Africa paints a sordid and gory picture. Taking a balance sheet of the situation of children in African countries with conflicts and in crisis leaves us with a deficit. A deficit of lack of love for our children. A deficit of adherence to our children's rights. We are not doing enough for our children.
I see some African countries majoring in the minors. I see selfish African leaders who are good at defending and fulfilling their selfish interests at the expense of children's rights. I see African leaders celebrating ratifying conventions and protocols but failing to live to the letter and spirit of the protocols and conventions.
We need to move beyond just signing and ratifying children's conventions. Let us go beyond showing commitment to the children's rights. We need to convert the commitment into action. We need to go beyond rhetoric. Let us protect children's rights in their totality. Children are our future and they are the vanguard of our countries. Let us invest in our future.
For sustainable development to be achieved and sustained, African countries must wean themselves from conflicts and wars. Africa protect your children's rights in totality. Do away with murder, rape and torture. Do away with impunity on abuse of children's rights. Fight for children's rights in totality. Stop this lip service to the welfare of children. Let us leap from war and conflicts to peace and fulfilment of children's rights. Above all, let us preach the gospel of responsibility to our children. I am of the view that children's rights can be sustainable if there is emphasis on responsibilities as well.
It must also be emphasised that in all actions whether in conflicts and crisis or in peace times, the best interests of the children must be of paramount importance. All actions all the time must be in tandem with the need to ensure that the best interest of the child is given priorities. All we need is Africa fit for children.
Conflicts are anti children's rights and well being. Children's rights are sacrosanct and any attempt to undermine them is a crime against humanity.
In the final analysis, a certain writer once wrote, "we do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children", so Governments and responsible parties should make the earth, Africa specifically, a better place to live in.
-----------
Johanne Mhlanga is a Social Worker and writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted at johannemhlanga82@gmail.com or 0776 308 483.
As a favoured African and proud Zimbabwean, a Social Worker for that matter, I am greatly excited to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and cross-pollinate ideas on the situation of children in Africa today. I am bound by my passion to serve children, see children enjoying their rights to the fullest, protecting children to enhance their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development and above all to prepare the future leaders to be responsible in adulthood. I am extremely humbled to share my views on the contemporary challenges of the African child in the midst of plenty.
On Thursday 16 June 2016, Zimbabwe will join the rest of the continent in commemorating the Day of the African Child, whose theme is, "Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting All Children's Rights."
To begin with, I wish to acknowledge my reservations with the theme for the Day of the African Child commemorations. The theme in my view portrays Africa as a continent in conflict and crisis. It portrays a sad picture of African countries entrenched in conflicts and crisis. In my view, the theme perpetuates the iniquitous view of Africa as a dark continent. It does paint a picture of the whole continent in Mfecane, "time of trouble." It portrays Africa as a continent not fit for children. Above all it is not in touch with the African discourse of child rights with responsibilities.
To me, many African countries have shown great commitment at least by signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Welfare and Rights of the Child. I am sure only one country in Africa is still to ratify the UNCRC, that is, South Sudan. It shows great commitment to the letter and spirit of ensuring children have access to and enjoy their rights. However, I need to point out that if the spirit of signing and ratifying the conventions was the same spirit that is put into action in implementing the provisions of the conventions, Africa could be way ahead of many continents in the world. However, reality on the ground points to an undesirable and unimaginable ignominy. We are only good in ratifying conventions and protocols. More often than not, those conventions and protocols gather dust on the shelves without being implemented. Perhaps, it is because we lack resources to fulfil the obligations enshrined in the conventions. I must of course acknowl
edge that this view must not be an umbrella view to African countries. Some countries have recorded great strides in ensuring that children have access to and enjoy their rights within the limits of the resources available to them. Countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, among others have made great strides in ensuring that children have access to and enjoy their rights.
Conflicts in some few African countries has become perennial and the order of the day. It has become fashionable to have some African countries in conflicts. It is now in the blood stream of many to live and to wage war in their own countries. It is has become fashionable for some African leaders to preside over wars and civil unrest in their countries. In the midst of conflicts who bears the brunt of suffering? It is innocent children who bears the brunt of suffering due to conflicts and crisis. Children are raped, maimed, tortured and even conscripted into armies for wars that they do not understand. Child soldier phenomenon is a cause for concern. Blatant violation of children's rights is the order of the day. Parents are killed in the presence of children resulting in emotional torture. Conflicts are resulting in loss of property and cultural identity in case of children being forced to seek international protection as refugees. Basic rights of children are undermined. Children drop out of school due to conflicts and crisis. Right to education is undermined much to the perpetuation of underdevelopment of the continent. There is loss of life. Conflicts result in violation of children's rights to life and survival, development, right to food, right to participation and related rights are grossly violated in conflicts. Violation of children's rights is a crime against humanity. Children's rights are sacred. This is the situation of children in Mali, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan and other countries in the continent where there are conflicts and crisis. The situation of children leaves a lot to be desired. Children's rights are being abused daily. Children are paying the prize for being vulnerable.
It is important to pose hard and penetrating questions on conflicts in Africa.
What are the conflicts for? Why having these never ending conflicts? Who is benefiting from these conflicts? Why fighting first and negotiate later? Why sacrificing the lives of innocent children? Why our children? What crime did our children commit?
A cursory audit and helicopter assessment on conflicts in Africa paints a sordid and gory picture. Taking a balance sheet of the situation of children in African countries with conflicts and in crisis leaves us with a deficit. A deficit of lack of love for our children. A deficit of adherence to our children's rights. We are not doing enough for our children.
I see some African countries majoring in the minors. I see selfish African leaders who are good at defending and fulfilling their selfish interests at the expense of children's rights. I see African leaders celebrating ratifying conventions and protocols but failing to live to the letter and spirit of the protocols and conventions.
We need to move beyond just signing and ratifying children's conventions. Let us go beyond showing commitment to the children's rights. We need to convert the commitment into action. We need to go beyond rhetoric. Let us protect children's rights in their totality. Children are our future and they are the vanguard of our countries. Let us invest in our future.
For sustainable development to be achieved and sustained, African countries must wean themselves from conflicts and wars. Africa protect your children's rights in totality. Do away with murder, rape and torture. Do away with impunity on abuse of children's rights. Fight for children's rights in totality. Stop this lip service to the welfare of children. Let us leap from war and conflicts to peace and fulfilment of children's rights. Above all, let us preach the gospel of responsibility to our children. I am of the view that children's rights can be sustainable if there is emphasis on responsibilities as well.
It must also be emphasised that in all actions whether in conflicts and crisis or in peace times, the best interests of the children must be of paramount importance. All actions all the time must be in tandem with the need to ensure that the best interest of the child is given priorities. All we need is Africa fit for children.
Conflicts are anti children's rights and well being. Children's rights are sacrosanct and any attempt to undermine them is a crime against humanity.
In the final analysis, a certain writer once wrote, "we do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children", so Governments and responsible parties should make the earth, Africa specifically, a better place to live in.
-----------
Johanne Mhlanga is a Social Worker and writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted at johannemhlanga82@gmail.com or 0776 308 483.
Source - Johanne Mhlanga
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