CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
|
Malawi |
CHILDREN
NGOs and other organisations have warned that children in Malawi are at risk
Child abuse is a form of violence against children and is a violation of their rights. Child abuse includes sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and child labour. It is a major problem in Malawi and this has been acknowledged by the Government, international organisations and local communities.
Child abuse
Child abuse has prevailed in Malawi for a long time but prior to 1994, the political climate was not conducive to open discussion of such issues, especially via the mass media. Readers should recall that from 1964 to 1994, Malawi was a one-party State. In 1994 the country accepted multiparty democracy. The fact is, during the one-party rule of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, a culture of silence prevailed. Issues of national importance such as poverty were never discussed, let alone child abuse.
In October 2000, a study entitled: «Child Abuse in Malawi — a Situational Analysis», was carried out on behalf of the National Task Force on Children and Violence in Malawi, by Dr. Chrissie P.N. Kaponda, a Parent-Child Specialist. She states that child abuse is a very big problem and a real challenge. The purpose of the situational analysis was: To describe the plight of children who are abused in Malawi; to define the magnitude of child abuse with special reference to child sexual abuse in Malawi: to examine the social, legal and cultural context in which sexual abuse is perceived and managed, as a basis for identifying national priorities on sexual abuse; to develop a programme document to tackle the problem.
The analysis concluded that child abuse in Malawi takes the form of: Physical abuse of children; child prostitution; child labour. The study also found that babies are being abandoned by their mothers, and this is an on-going situation.
Children at risk
The study found that child prostitution is a common form of sexual abuse in Malawi where girls between the ages of 13 and 18 years are involved. In the main cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, girls tend to roam the streets at night and hang around hotels, inns and motels in search of men. According to a survey on street children conducted by the Ministry of Women, Youth and Community Services in Lilongwe, prostitution is a major problem affecting 8.4% of the 400 street children surveyed.
Dr Kaponda’s study also found that children in Malawi grow up in high-risk environments, despite the efforts of the government and NGOs to improve their lives. The environments include risk of catching HIV/AIDS, poverty, malnutrition and high rates of communicable diseases. The estimated prevalence rate of HIV in the 15-49 year group is 14%, and a proportion of these are children. It is estimated that there are one million orphans in Malawi and that 25% of the children in Malawi have lost one or both parents.
Child labour
The weekly Chronicle of 6 November 2000, carried a story (from the Pan-African News Agency) that Malawi’s main foreign exchange earners — tobacco and tea — risked international trade sanctions, due to the industries’ use of child labour on the vast estates, despite protests from trade unions. The PANA report quoted the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) as saying estate owners of the two crops, violated the United Nations Declaration on Children’s Rights, through the use of child labour in the production of tea and tobacco.
According to the MCTU: «Malawi has one of the most serious child labour records in the world. Its major exports — tobacco and tea — are major exploiters of children».
A study by the MCTU in collaboration with the ILO to determine the magnitude of the problem, found that the problem of child labour in the country’s main agriculture sector is rampant. The study also found that most children working on estates were heavily exploited and worked in hostile conditions, including long hours. Sophie Chitenje, the MCTU‘s Child Labour Committee Member, attributes the problem of child labour in Malawi to chronic poverty among many Malawian households. The MCTU therefore recommends that Malawi should enact laws that bar employers from employing any person below the age of 16. The Government has admitted the high magnitude of the problem of child labour. The UN Convention of Child Labour bars the employment of Children under the age of 18.
On 8 November 2000, by way of reply, the Tea Association of Malawi issued a press release on child labour, refuting the contents of the Chronicle‘s article (which was also carried in the Business Telegraph newspaper), saying: «Such scurrilous and unwarranted allegations not based on facts, could do untold harm to the industry, and indeed the economy of Malawi». The Tea Association of Malawi urged journalists reporting on technical matters such as labour, to earnestly consult the industries concerned, to hear their side before rushing to publish inaccurate and damaging articles which have no basis, except showing the ignorance or the malice of authors concerned.
The consequences of child abuse are many. According to Dr.Chrissie Kaponda’s study, the consequences include suicide, malnutrition, promiscuity, emotional stress, frequent illnesses, stunted growth, death, stubbornness, depression, mental disturbance, loss of weight, and children running away.
Any help for the children?
From the findings of Dr. Kaponda’s study, it appears that there is a lack of institutional support for the children. The study found that sexually abused children rarely receive comprehensive care. In communities, very little happens to reduce anxiety or explain to the children what was happening. In police stations, victims are treated with little consideration of their privacy and the emotional trauma sustained. The same goes for hospital treatment given to victims.
The study further noted that nothing happens to child abusers, especially when fathers of sexually abused children and other family members are involved. The legal and justice system takes far too long to prosecute cases of child sexual abusers. Indeed, Malawi does not have a specific policy to deal with child sexual abusers but there are plans to move towards developing a specific policy for dealing with child sexual abusers. Also, for helping to improve childrens’ quality of life.
But will these plans move to definite action? For the childrens’ sake, let’s hope so!
ENGLISH CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 2000 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement