Oshakati
The Junior Mayor of Oshakati Singo Gomez has made an impassioned appeal to Africans to collectively work together to abolish child marriages on the continent and beyond.
He equally implored lawmakers to pass laws to eliminate what he called “immoral and unfair social injustices being imposed on African children”.
Gomez said it is heart-rending to know that several parents allow children to take up wife and husbandry roles when they should be going to school to receive education.
“Cultural practices which support child marriages should be abolished as they take away the innocence of the African child which if lost, it is lost forever,” said Gomez.
Gomez was speaking at the commemoration of the Day of the African Child in Oshakati yesterday. The event was commemorated under the theme “25 years after the adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa.”
Gomez used the same opportunity also to encourage fellow children to take responsible decisions to become successful people once they are grown up.
In addition, Gomez appealed to fellow youth to be receptive to parental advice.
“It is every parent’s dream to see their children flourish and as African children we need to make sure not to let our parents down,” said the junior mayor.
Also speaking at the event, Governor of Oshana Region Clemens Kashuupulwa urged children to commit themselves to their schoolwork and pass their grades with flying colours.
He further urged youth to take the lead in developing the region.
The Day of the African Child was ratified by the African Union (AU) in 1991 along with Unicef to raise awareness on the rights of African children. The resolution implores Africans on the continent and in the diaspora to make the utmost efforts to protect the rights and welfare of the child in Africa. The day has since been celebrated by 47 African countries including Namibia.