Declaration of child protection partners – Aminata.com Information in Guinea and in the world

2023-06-02 21:35:50

DAKAR (Senegal), June 2, 2023 – We, child protection actors, express our
deep concern about the risk of violence faced by children during
socio-political events and public demonstrations in Senegal.
We deplore the involvement of children in these demonstrations which have already caused deaths
– including children. The negative effects of socio-political unrest can lead to the
cessation of certain basic social services such as education, and impact on mental health
children and their physical integrity.
We encourage national authorities to ensure all the necessary conditions for
ensure educational continuity and allow children to continue their learning in
safe spaces, in peace and in the most total security.
We invite actors on all sides to banish any involvement of children in
public demonstrations at risk of violence and call on all socio-political actors, all
stakeholders, including parents, to prevent children from being instrumentalized or
find themselves in risky situations.
We call on parents and all socio-political actors to protect children and
do everything possible to avoid exposing them during demonstrations at the risk of compromising
their safety and their lives. We recall the importance for parents and guardians to dialogue with
children and to redouble their vigilance in order to keep them away from scenes of
violence and risky situations for their protection and well-being.
We advocate for the protection of children in all circumstances, including during
demonstrations and law enforcement situations and encourage national authorities to
take all measures to actively mobilize prevention and management services
care of child victims or witnesses of violence, as well as children and adolescents
apprehended in the context of or on the sidelines of the demonstrations. We invite the State to seek and
punish the perpetrators of acts that compromise the safety and well-being of children and to ensure
respect for the best interests of the child even in situations where they are apprehended.
We encourage national and local actors, the media and officials
communities, to increase awareness messages aimed at families on
the importance of reinforcing the supervision and safety of their children.
We reiterate our commitment and availability to support everyone’s efforts to
guarantee the effectiveness of the protection and promotion of children’s rights in Senegal.

FIN
For more information, please contact:
Moussa Diop, Communication Specialist, [phone], [email protected],
UNICEF Senegal
Ndeye Mbana Toure, Joining Forces Consortium Coordinator, [phone],
[email protected] , SOS Children’s Village Senegal
Habibou Dia, Public Information Officer, [phone], [email protected], HCDH BRAO