?One case of child abuse is always one too many.? This comes from the mouth of the minister of Women?s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare, Indira Seebun, who launched a national parental empowerment programme last Wednesday in the presence of social workers, religious leaders and community workers. Reported cases show that ?often parents or adults responsible for the welfare of the children are themselves perpetrators?. This is why the ministry has found it important to provide training to parents to make sure they have all necessary tools to be ?good parents?.

Rita Venkatasamy, founder and director of the Centre d?Education et du Développement pour les Enfants Mauriciens (Cedem), related the story of a little boy. ?His mother was a prostitute and, at the age of two, he saw things a child is not supposed to see. Some time later, he started being victim of sodomy by his mother?s clients. Today, he is eight and can?t control his sexuality. He has a sexualised behaviour and asks to do things hardly imaginable for a child of his age,? she said. For her, the simplest definition of parenting is the ?art of loving a child?. With this in mind, the programme is there to ?help parents rehabilitate their hearts?.

Both the minister and the director of the Cedem pointed out how important it was for everyone to get involved to defend the rights of children. ?The State alone would never be able to provide the support and care to Mauritian children and prevent harm being done to them,? claimed the minister. She made an appeal for all people working with children in the field to become more aware and communicate any suspicious case of violence to her ministry.

All religious leaders and members of non-government organisation (NGOs) present confirmed their desire to collaborate with the ministry to set up this programme and make sure all children are safe. The idea of a child community watch, launched by the former government and ensuring that an area is under constant surveillance, will also have to be extended and reinforced.

A member of the audience highlighted that most cases of abuse he deals with as a social worker are done by parents. ?It is because their mothers are prostitutes, drug or alcohol addicts that these children are at risk. Parents are the first ones who need to be cured. Only then will children have a chance of recovery.?

Training community leaders

The programme itself will ensure that guidance be provided for all parents. ?The compilation of a training manual is under way. Once finalised in a month time, a training of trainers? course will be conducted with a group of national trainers from various ministries dealing with community work and casework (?). These national trainers will then insert the parenting component in their day-to-day casework and community work?. An overall number of 200 community leaders, who will then become responsible for reaching out to parents, are expected to be fully trained in the coming months.

Between July 2006 and March 2007, there were 2,807 reported cases of neglect or abuse on children. ?We believe that the number of cases keeps rising because people no longer fear to report cases of violence. They are increasingly made aware of their rights and know they can do something now,? the minister revealed. But it is equally important that these reported cases benefit from proper follow-up. This is why a protocol of assistance to battered children has also been launched.

The leader of the council of religions, Homa Mungapen, insisted that all community workers and religious leaders open their eyes and become even more aware of what is happening to children. ?Each child has an expiry date. They have to be given all the values, affection and tools before they are 15 years old. It is becoming urgent that all of us ? all religions together ? join hands and make sure children are taken care of properly.?

16 DAYS 16 RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Turning the spotlight on children?

■ The ?16 days-16 rights campaign? starts today. During the next two weeks, the ministry of Women?s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Ombudsperson for Children, Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, and the National Children Council will strive to make the public aware of children?s rights. The fourth edition of this campaign will highlight the importance of children and adults becoming aware of children?s rights but it will also emphasise children?s responsibilities. ?Many adults are now complaining because children do as they think best without any respect for others. It is important that children understand that their rights end where the rights of others start,? commented the Ombudsperson for Children. There will be a number of workshops and talks during the campaign. It will end up with a concert at Sir Gaëtan Duval Stadium in Rose-Hill on Saturday, 16th June as from 1.30 p.m. and the ?stars will be the children?.