African leaders come together to pledge an end to violence against children

More than 200 leaders from across Africa are meeting in Addis Ababa today to commit to work together to end violence against children. It is an occasion World Vision, who organised the event, is calling truly inspiring.

Religious leaders, ambassadors, government ministers, and children themselves are meeting to pledge to work together end to violence against children.

World Vision says the Addis commitments being made by attendees, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, will be used to measure joint efforts and hold everyone accountable for their efforts.

“This is about working together to challenge the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that condone violence against children, and to ensure governments enact policies that prohibit it and provide services that prevent it,” said World Vision International President and CEO Kevin Jenkins, from Addis Ababa.

“Allowing the routine cycle of violence to continue, generation upon generation, hinders children’s progress in every way. Parents, teachers and authority figures who were brought up believing it is normal to use violence against children tend to do the same things – until someone steps in and says, no more. That’s why we’re here. Let’s bring an end to the repeating cry of pain which echoes down the generations.”

Violence affects over one billion children every year, in every country and every community. In Africa, some of the most prevalent forms of violence against children are child labour, child marriage, female genital mutilation and the recruitment of children into conflict.

In Mozambique, Beatriz’s life was full of promise until she was orphaned at 13. Her aunt took her in, and one year later arranged her marriage.

“I was told I should marry because my parents had died and my aunt did not have money to support me,” she said.

“It was a horrible feeling…I refused saying I was still young to marry, but my aunt did not care. The decision was taken,” she said.

Thanks to the World Vision “Youth with Vision” club and with support from the local police they were able to stop the marriage.

“I felt like I had awakened from the worst nightmare. If I had married, I would be pregnant and out of school, just like what happens to a lot of girls in our community,” says Beatriz, now 15.