©AfreePress-(Lomé, June 16, 2023)-The Day of the African Child is celebrated every 16 June. In Togo, Compassion International Togo marked the event through a meeting of exchanges.
Took part in this meeting focused on the theme: “The rights of the child in a digital environment”, officials of the General Directorate of Child Protection in Togo, officials of the national and international office of Compassion, traditional leaders and managers of the Youth and Children Development Centers. For this organization, it was a question of reaffirming its commitment to the protection and well-being of children and of calling on all actors to fight against the forms of violence children face with the development of digital technology.
“This celebration allows us once again to reflect and lay the foundations for the well-being of the African child. Despite the progress and efforts made here and there, by the various actors, including the government, there is still work to be done. And for us this celebration offers us the opportunity to invite each actor to get more involved in the protection of children, who suffer every day, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence. According to alarming statistics from the General Directorate of Child Protection in Togo, 1 in 5 children face forms of violence and this includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. For us, these figures are unacceptable, and we must unite our efforts to put an end to this violence,” said Olivier Koffi AHONON, National Director of Compassion International Togo.
For Compassion International, the theme of the 2023 edition challenges all actors in society on the future of children. The organization advocates for measures to improve children’s understanding and skills in the use of digital technologies, to protect them from dangers and promote their well-being in an increasingly connected world.
“The development of technology offers opportunities, but it also exposes our children to new risks and challenges. And cases of child abuse persist and carry into the digital environment and children are victims of cyberbullying, online exploitation and access to inappropriate content and cybercrime. This day calls on us all to rethink how we can ensure the dignity, the honor of children in the digital world,” added Mr. AHONON.
Ms. Megan Kelly, Senior Manager of Protection and Safeguarding of Compassion International from the United States, particularly congratulated the Togolese government for its efforts in favor of children’s rights and reassured of the commitment of her NGO to accompany the efforts of the authorities in the field of child protection.
Apart from this meeting of exchanges with the various actors, Compassion International Togo sensitized and trained young people on the benefits and risks of digital.
Apart from the conference, an exhibition of works of art bearing on the theme was made during the day. The works, produced by young people from the Compassion International Togo program, were devoted to the theme of the day.
As a reminder, the Day of the African Child has been established since 1991 by the African Union, in memory of the massacre of hundreds of children during a march for their rights in Soweto by the apartheid power on June 16, 1976.
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