President Hage Geingob said Namibia will continue to contribute and work for an Africa that is fit for children.

In a Day of the African Child message to the media, President Geingob argued that this year’s Day of the African Child, celebrated under the theme ‘Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013’, is relevant “as it challenges us to eliminate despicable acts perpetrated against children which deprives them of fully enjoying their fundamental rights, as enshrined in the African Children’s Charter and the Namibian Constitution”. 

Namibia marks the Day of the African Child on 16 June every year. It is commemorated annually in memory of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, which saw them take brave action in defence of their rights. At that time, students marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received, and demanded to be taught in their own languages.

“The Government of Namibia has made progress with regards to the empowerment and development of the Namibian child. Every Namibian child continues to enjoy free education. The Government has also rolled out a school-feeding programme, which keeps many children from food-insecure households at school. The provision of social grants to orphans and vulnerable children has gone a long way to assist mothers and caregivers in catering for the basic needs of the Namibian child. The empowerment of children and their development are multifaceted processes that require cross-sectoral collaborations,” Geingob added.

He said “daily, Namibian children are subjected to harmful actions at the hands of their caregivers. Horrific acts of rape, kidnapping, baby dumping, social negligence and many other ills are committed against innocent children. These harmful practices are not only a violation of their human rights, but also constitute significant damage to the victims and adversely affect their future.

“Specifically, the girl-child is affected disproportionately, depriving girls of their childhood and denying them the opportunity to shape their futures positively. 

Let us persistently call out perpetrators of shameful acts and remove them from society,” he stressed.