CPS, YMCA: Commemorating the Day of the African Child – A Call to Decision Makers for Action

In commemoration of the Day of the African Child, the YMCA of Liberia a CPS Network Partner on Thursday, June 16, 2022, held a special program in Monrovia under the theme:

“Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy & Practice since 2013.”

The Day of the African Child program was held under the YMCA’s Civil Peace Service (CPS) program, a youth-led and youth-driven peace-building program.

On June 16, 1971 more than 20,000 South African students in the township of Soweto took to the streets, demanding to be taught in their own language. Armed police officers responded by murdering hundreds of protesters. Recognized as International Day of the African Child throughout the world, the day also focuses attention on the barriers African children face in order to receive quality education.

The indoor program began with a warm up and learning session on the Liberian perspective with facts and information on child trafficking, reconnecting young children with their Culture, and presentation of Call to Action to Decision Makers. The program also assessed the status toward the protection and assistance of children who are at risk and victims of harmful practices in Liberia.

During the program kids were given the opportunity to present their views and ideas on child trafficking in Liberia.

A Resolution of Call for Action was presented to a member of the House of Representatives of Liberia and Chairman of the House standing committee on Youth and Sports, Honorable Solomon George.

Read by one of the participants, the children called on Law makers in Liberia to speedily and unconditionally review all laws and policies on child trafficking – calling for the immediate passage. That Law Makers ensure all forms of harmful practices against children across Liberia be prohibited immediately.

The children in their resolution also called on the President of Liberia, President, George Weah to consider full implementation and support on the laws on Child Trafficking without compromise, and the provision of support to the Ministry of Gender and Children Protection and other Non-governmental institutions to support victims at safe homes.

The member of the House of Representatives promised to lobby for what the children have resolved – noting, “I will lobby with my colleagues in the Legislature relative to the resolution presented. “I will not fail you, because if I do, I have failed the children of Liberia.”

On Child Trafficking in Liberia, he called on the public and communities to report to relevant authorities, children who are in danger as a result of child trafficking and other harmful practices.

A 2021 US State department Report on Child Trafficking in Liberia says in the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Liberia, and traffickers exploit victims from Liberia abroad.

According to the report, trafficking within the country is more prevalent than transnational trafficking, and the majority of victims are children, while traffickers recruit and exploit most victims within the country’s borders in domestic servitude, forced begging, sex trafficking, or forced labor in street vending, gold and alluvial diamond mines, and on small-scale rubber plantations.

The Liberia YMCA in partnership with the Civil Peace Service (CPS) organized the program. The YMCA CPS is youth-led and driven, with the program plan being to train, empower and connect young women and men to become change agents in their communities and contribute to peace and development. The YMCA uses the Subject to Citizens (S2C) approach and works with a spectrum of the youth population focusing on disadvantaged youth, young women and girls, and youth with disabilities.