‘Reports of child prostitutes saddening’
By ARTHUR MWANSA
DEPUTY Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development Angela Cifire says her ministry is saddened by the increasing number of child prostitutes in the country.
Ms Cifire says it is also disheartening that children as young as nine years old are being lured into commercial sex work.
Ms Cifire said this in Lusaka on Tuesday when she officiated at the dissemination of the report on maximising positive synergies between global health initiatives and health systems strengthening by Children in Need Network (CHIN).
“My ministry is really saddened by the high incidence of sexual abuse cases in the country.
It is even worse that our non-governmental organisations do not seem to be doing much in this area. These children are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS,” she said.
Ms Cifire said although Government has a key role to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS, her ministry recognises the comparative advantage of civil society and NGOs in reaching out to communities through awareness-raising and other support activities.
She said the work done by CHIN in monitoring Government’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child is useful as it helps Government to reflect on progress it is making.
Ms Cifire said her ministry is in the process of piloting implementation of the National Plan of Action for Children, which is in its final stage.
She said strides are also being made in establishing the Zambia Council for the Child, a body that will ensure coordination and harmonisation of the child development arena.
She reiterated that NGOs have the responsibility to work closely with Government to ensure harmony and effective service for the benefit of children.
Ms Cifire also said Government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, has made significant progress in reviewing child-related legislation with support of the Zambia Law Development Commission.
“A legislative audit of all child-related legislation has since been conducted and findings disseminated to stakeholders across the country.
“I am also pleased to see that CHIN has done some work on factors that predispose our children to sexual abuse,” said Ms Cifire.
CHIN executive director Pamela Chisanga said her organisation has come up with five pieces of research material which are action- oriented in advocating children’s rights, including research on customary law and defilement.
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