More awareness is needed at the rural level on the recently launched National Child Protection Policy 2017-2027.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, Delilah Gore says the Lukautim Pikinini Act and the Child Protection Policy are yet to be introduced right down to the rural villages.
Gore said, when speaking to child protection officers, that leaders in the LLGs, village and rural communities must understand these laws so that they know and understand the rights of the children.
“When the community leaders understand these laws, they will be able to help you protect the children as leaders in the community.
“We have to go down to that level because those that are vulnerable are the ones in the rural villages.
“We are 800 different cultures and we have different ways of addressing issues.
“Everyone in the community must understand the law and rights of children both able and children living with a disability,” Gore explained.
Gore said people must understand that the children have equal rights as any other person on earth.
She stressed that the children must be protected because they’re the future leaders of the country.
Gore added that there must be child protection officers in every LLG, district and province to protect the children.
The Policy was successfully launched in Kokopo, ENB Province on April 14 at Kokopo Primary School by the Minister.
The Policy aims to see child protection system coordination and leadership at all levels of government is improved.