The court opened last week and is expected to address numerous cases where children suffered abuse such as rape but could not open up for fear of facing their perpetrators.
Since last year, NANGO has been holding workshops with the Parliamentary portfolio committee overseeing children’s rights and publishing advocacy handbooks for children’s rights. The organisation has also been conducting awareness campaigns in schools focusing on children’s rights.
“We have been saying children have rights to social protection and to be heard. In the city of Kwekwe there were no such facilities to guarantee these rights to children,” said Vimbai Nhutsve-Musengi, the NANGO Central Region Coordinator.
“The court has a room with Information Communication Technology devices which allow a victim of abuse to give testimony and be cross-examined while separated from the perpetrator. Offices of magistrates and the state prosecutors are also there so we see that as a milestone in defending children’s rights,” she said. Morgan Nemandire, the resident magistrate for Kwekwe said his team would work overtime to ensure that children’s cases were handled effectively.
Post published in: News