Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference has launched Child Safeguarding and vulnerable adults Policy to protect the right of children.
The Representatives of the dioceses including reverend fathers and sisters participated during the official launch of the policy on Thursday this week at Kit in the Rajaf East area.
Archbishop of Juba Archdiocese Stephen Ameyu Martin says the document must be present in the Bishops’ conference and all the dioceses.
Archbishop Ameyo stated that Catholics has been instructed in Rome to follow the policies, especially the safeguarding of child and vulnerable people.
“On this occasion of launching child safeguard policy, it’s important for us to remember that it is an obligation for us in the universal Church. We have been instructed by Rome that we must follow these policies, especially the safeguard of children and vulnerable people,” Archbishop said.
Ameyo further urged the dioceses in Sudan and South Sudan to endorse the document and implement it effectively.
He called on the representatives of the dioceses to understand the importance of implementing the policy of child safeguarding.
“My dear people of God, we have come and have a four-day workshop in regard to this document of the child and the vulnerable people safeguard. It’s important for us to understand that the implementation is the most important thing.”
He stressed that the document may be beautiful and nice to read, but it should not just end up as a document, that wouldn’t help the people.
Archbishop added that it’s a mandate for each and everyone to protect children from any form of abuse.
Ameyo stressed the need to continue praying for peace in Sudan and South Sudan saying the ongoing violence affected the Church as well as innocent people.
The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) says they work hard to see the policy is well implemented in the region.
Father Emmanuel Chimombo, AMECEA’s Coordinator says child protection falls under Pastoral Department and there is a desk to tackle such cases if reported.
“We have the child safeguarding desk domesticated under the pastoral department, but we all work hand in hand to ensure that issues are running well within the region.”
Chimombo said the role of AMCEA is to support conferences in building and strengthening initiatives that come from the conferences.
“Our role is to support conferences in building and strengthening initiatives that come from conferences, like at this moment, we have come to strengthen the initiative of safeguarding.”
So we come in looking at the needs that are there in a conference and we come to support and strengthen them,” Fr. Chimombo stated.
As Sudan and South Sudan are launching the child and vulnerable adults safeguarding policy, we are joining them and moving together in the spirit of sodality to implement and execute their programs, “Chimobo added.”
Rev. Chimobo stated that AMECEA ensures that the understanding of safeguarding in Sudan and South Sudan should be the same way it’s in Malawi or any other conference.
He narrated that the reason for having a policy is to ensure that all children are protected.
Jim Long said the process has not been easy, but they have worked hard to make sure that the child safeguarding document is out.
“It has been a long time going over this issue as a committee, we had to go through it with care and dedication and that is why today the child safeguarding document is out.”
He adds that South Sudan is one of the countries which has done bad to children because of the war and it’s the mandate of the Church to fight for the protection of the children.
“South Sudan is one of the Countries which has much-done wrongs to the children because of the war, and we feel that children must be saved and must be guided to a peaceful future.”
The purpose of the document is to provide a managing strategy to prevent child abuse and to protect children and vulnerable adults in the course of work, “Jim said.
“The purpose of this document is to provide a managing strategy to prevent child abuse and to protect children and vulnerable adults in the course of work, to protect conference staff and partners from unfair practice.”
The document will also provide conference staff and partners with clear guidelines in case of suspected child abuse.
The principles and values of child safeguarding policy reflect Zero tolerance of Child abuse, recognition of children’s interests, and sharing responsibility for child protection.