Let’s rescue our children from Abuse and Rights Violations – Former MP Freda Prempeh

Dr Freda Prempeh, a former Deputy Minister of Gender and Social Protection on Thursday said children are national and not family assets, calling for more efforts to rescue them from exploitation, abuses and maltreatment.

She said child abuse remained a worst form of human rights violation inimical to their holistic growth and development and called for decisive efforts to upholds and defend the rights and dignity of children.

Dr Prempeh, also the Founder of the Ultimate Women Foundation (UWF) made the call in an interview with the media at Duayaw-Nkwanta in reaction to a viral video in which a young child was being subjected to brutal and inhumane physical assaults.

UWF is a women and girls centered Non-Governmental Organisation working to encourage indigenous and vulnerable women and girls to know their worth.

It works further to empower and well position women and girls to contribute to the development of their communities and the larger society.

Dr Freda Prempeh said: “In fact, many boys, girls and aged women go through those inhumane emotional and physical assaults, especially in deprived communities clandestinely”.

She said without the support and cooperation of the public, the security services and the relevant institutions responsible could not identify and stop “the abuses children go through”, and called on everybody to be bold and inform the police about child rights violations that happen at the community level.

“If we remain sensitive, we identify children, especially girls who suffered worst forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation at the community levels”, the former outspoken legislator indicated.

 Dr Prempeh said: “the law must also punish culprits of child rights violation severely to uphold and defend the dignity and fundamental human rights of children”.

By Dennis Peprah