News

EveryChild is supporting law changes in Malawi that will protect children from abuse and exploitation

19 Aug 2010

leave a comment

EveryChild welcomes the news that the Child Care, Protection and Justice Bill has been passed into law by the Malawian Government. This is great news for the 7 million children who make up half of the population in Malawi. It has taken a number of years to be made law and during this time EveryChild has contributed knowledge and expertise to ensure that the Law will protect and uphold the best interest of the child.

The new Child Care, Protection and Justice Law covers a wide range of issues that affect children. The law outlines parents’ responsibilities to protect and nurture their children as well as the responsibility of local authorities to protect children growing up without a mum or dad. One in five children in Malawi live without the care and protection of a parent so it is essential that the new Law outlines local authorities’ responsibilities to care for children growing up with extended families, in foster care and in children’s homes.

The law also outlines the duties and responsibilities of local authorities to protect children from harmful, exploitative or undesirable practices. For many years EveryChild has been working with communities and families to reduce the number of children who are forced into child labour. For poor families it can seem like the only choice they have is to send their child away to work in the cities or as farm hands. To combat this EveryChild provides material and educational support to families at risk of separation and raises awareness of the issue of child labour amongst the community. The new Law will encourage local authorities to support children and families before they are employed in hazardous labour, and to prosecute employers who exploit children.

In addition, the Child Care, Protection and Justice Law provides principles and procedures for dealing with children suspected of having committed criminal offences. Provisions include child-friendly court cases and legal representation for children suspected of committing an offence. The Law aims to modernise the child justice system in Malawi by putting emphasis on the rehabilitation of the child offenders and their reintegration into society. EveryChild in Malawi has focussed on child justice for a long time and has already trained twenty prosecutors and twenty police officers in child protection issues to help them deal with children in conflict with the law.