The organisation is currently taking 65,000 distress calls per month from children across Zimbabwe reaching out for help, says Miller. In 2010 Childline answered 277,093 calls. The number almost doubled in 2011 with 514,625 calls and increased in 2012 to 661,326.
Miller told The Zimbabwean that the increase was worrying as it was an indication of the increasing abuse of children’s rights.
“While the Children’s Protection Adoption Act is Zimbabwe’s most relevant and comprehensive stature governing the rights of abused and neglected children to protection, the law is silent on the right of children to express themselves in child protection proceedings. Policy makers should revisit some of these laws that have loopholes to ensure that children enjoy their rights,” she said.
“Of the children we counselled last year one in every four had been sexually abused. It has emerged that most children are harassed at school whilst others are abused by their very own care-givers,” Miller added.
She said Childline staff were working round the clock to provide the much needed support to children through a 24 hour toll-free helpline, accessible through a short digit (116) and free postal service.
“We have a professional service where we offer help free of charge to any child who has been affected by any form of abuse. We also link children with necessary resources beyond the expertise of Childline, such as legal assistance, police protection, overnight care in a place of safety and access to education,” she added.
Her organisation has been using the data they compile annually to inform decision makers of children’s views and the services needed to ensure they develop into responsible adults.
Childline counselled 8,136 children in 2012 and 62 percent of the calls came from girls. 25 percent of the cases showed that the children had been sexually abused. Childline was established in 1997 and has been working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
Post published in: News