By Foday Moriba Conteh
In commemoration of International Day of Street Children in the country, the Network for Street Children Sierra Leone, a coalition of street children organisations, including Don Bosco Fambul, St George’s Foundation, Street Child of Sierra Leone, Cap Anamur and Laughter Africa has in a Press Conference, held on Wednesday 12th April, 2023 on the theme: “Keeping Children Safe Before, During and After the Election’” at Congo Cross in Freetown, called for the protection of children before, during and after the elections.
Speaking during the Press Conference, the Communications Officer at Don Bosco Fambul, Amanda Clemens, disclosed that the Network for Street Children Sierra Leone is a coalition of street children organizations based in Freetown and the members include Don Bosco Fambul, St George’s Foundation, Street Child of Sierra Leone, Cap Anamur and Laughter Africa, adding that the coalition focuses on policy change and advocacy.
She maintained that every year on the 12th April, street children organisations all over the world celebrate the International Day for Street Children and that this year the global theme of the day is “Keeping Street-Connected Children Safe.”
She revealed that as a Network directly working with these children, they decided to localise the theme to “Keeping Children Safe Before, During and After the Elections,” which she said is one of the biggest risks facing children, particularly those living on the street.
The Communications Officer noted that during the period of elections, many children, particularly those living on the street, are given incentives such as money or T-shirts to join political events such as rallies or community meetings to increase the numbers of the crowd and that the move by the network eembolden them and partners to appeal to every Sierra Leonean including politicians, community members, family members and children themselves, not to let children be involved or engaged in any political event or election violence before, during and after the elections.
“The safety and well-being of all children, especially those in street situations, is our primary concern,” she concluded.
The President of Children Forum Network, Mohamed Barrie, commended the Network for Street Children Sierra Leone for the initiative.
He said that the issue of children’s involvement during elections has been a great concern in the country.
Mohamed Barrie further recommended for the enactment of laws and undertaking policy review processes in the country, adding that the country currently has the national strategy for the reduction of street children but rhetorically questions how far has the implementation of the policy been carried out in the country.
He also recommended for the country to have a comprehensive children protection system so that street children can be protected from all forms of violence and also called for the need for capacity building of these children living on the street.
The Director of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone, Gloria Bayoh, also applauded the Network of Street Children Sierra Leone for calling for the protection of children before, during and after elections.
She said that the Commission has noticed with disdain that during electioneering processes in the country children have become the most readily available tools that politicians use to cause mayhem of which she said such must stop.
Gloria Bayoh assured the gathering that the Commission will not relent on its activities and commitment in order to protect children.
She further recommended to organizations to map out strategies in order to mobilize more resources in order for them to be able to cater for more children, adding that the children these organizations are working with are less compared to the number of children on the street in the country.
The Admin Officer at Family Support Unit, Lansana Tarawalie said that people take advantage of children living on the street which he said is a growing concern in the country, adding that it against that regard that Family Support Unit has established a desk in order to get a data of election related cases involving children.
He assured all that the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police is very committed towards the protection of children before during and after elections in the country.
