Hibiscus theme unites in 'love and protection' of children
THE highlight of this year’s weeklong Hibiscus Festival in the capital city is its theme “Our children, our future – love and protect them”.
It has united people from all over Fiji to become enthused about standing up and speaking out against the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.
Leading the way towards a brighter future for the young people of Fiji, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation (Department of Social Welfare) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has engaged with the Hibiscus Event Group to propose that they work together to bring to attention the plight of children suffering from abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation.
As a result the theme for the Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus 2011 was termed “ Our Children Our Future – Love and Protect Them”.
Spearheading the promotion of the theme and coordination of other government ministry’s involvement in the festival, the Ministry for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, permanent secretary Mr Govind Sami, said child protection was everyone’s business.
He is pleased to see so many different agencies coming on board to support his team, but more importantly the children of Fiji.
Fiji signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1993, which articulates the benchmarks in child protection and welfare and spells out what the government’s obligations are.
Mr Sami said the ministry had set the goal of raising awareness of the issues and encouraging individuals to make changes to the way they interact with and care for children. The ambitious society wide goals are being realised through the festival.
“We will persevere to achieve those targets. The ministry has set up a booth at Albert Park and it will be there the whole week to provide information to people about the type of services we have to offer in looking after the needs of our children,” said Mr Sami.
“The Hibiscus event is seen as an opportunity to bring about heightened awareness and publicity on child protection. The festival is the most publicised event; drawing people from as far as the highlands of Fiji and the outer islands; through live television coverage on Fiji One; and exposure across the Pacific Island nations through the Sky Pacific network.
“Apart from the child welfare activities, the ministry will also be portraying information on the empowerment programs of Ministry of Social Welfare and Women, particularly we are looking at the income generating programs, Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community and Gender Mainstreaming,” he said.
Mr Sami said the ministry encouraged parents to bring their children to the various competitions that would be organized during Hibiscus week, some of which include a rap competition that will be organized today where children can display their talents.
“We will also have our welfare officers based at the booth throughout the whole week and they will be able to answer questions from the public about matters pertaining to child protection. For example whom you can contact if you feel and see that a child is being abused. What can you do as a mother, aunt, uncle, father, grandfather, teacher, lawyer, village headman,” Mr Sami added.
After the Hibiscus event this year, the ministry will be working towards publicizing another campaign that is aimed at bringing about awareness and stopping child abuse! The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (PCAN) - Blue Ribbon Campaign, which is held every year in November will be celebrated country wide.
These initiatives by the ministry have been continuously supported by UNICEF through a multi-year work plan that is aimed at addressing the issues around the protection of children.
UNICEF’s representative Isiye Ndombi said he was encouraged and impressed by the way the ministry and the community had embraced, with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, the theme of this year’s festival.
“We are all here for one reason – the protection of the children of Fiji. It has been amazing to see the variety of individuals, agencies and organizations – come forth this week and culminate as a group of driven people wanting to make changes for children,” Mdombi said.
“Children in Fiji are abused and neglected every day and this comes at a high cost, to the child, but also to the country. Direct costs associated with the immediate needs of children who are abused or neglected (health, child welfare and justice); and indirect costs associated with the long-term and/or secondary effects of child abuse and neglect (health, education and criminal).
“While the cost of child abuse is often measured in terms of the psychological costs to the individual, or the social costs to society, it is also possible to make a financial measure of the costs of child abuse.
“Some of our studies show that the cost to fix the problems retrospectively far outweighs the costs of investing in child abuse prevention. This means that, in addition to the arguments we make on the grounds of morality and human rights, investing in child protection also makes sound economic sense.
“This year’s theme is about recognizing that our children are our future.
“This week I have seen the people of Fiji, led by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, become more aware of the issues and acknowledge that they exist. “The next step is for us to all work together to take action. Hibiscus Festival brings with it a spirit and a time for us to come together to take positive and real steps toward creating a safer, more nurturing and caring environment for children, the children of Fiji.”
It has united people from all over Fiji to become enthused about standing up and speaking out against the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.
Leading the way towards a brighter future for the young people of Fiji, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation (Department of Social Welfare) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has engaged with the Hibiscus Event Group to propose that they work together to bring to attention the plight of children suffering from abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation.
As a result the theme for the Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus 2011 was termed “ Our Children Our Future – Love and Protect Them”.
Spearheading the promotion of the theme and coordination of other government ministry’s involvement in the festival, the Ministry for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, permanent secretary Mr Govind Sami, said child protection was everyone’s business.
He is pleased to see so many different agencies coming on board to support his team, but more importantly the children of Fiji.
Fiji signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1993, which articulates the benchmarks in child protection and welfare and spells out what the government’s obligations are.
Mr Sami said the ministry had set the goal of raising awareness of the issues and encouraging individuals to make changes to the way they interact with and care for children. The ambitious society wide goals are being realised through the festival.
“We will persevere to achieve those targets. The ministry has set up a booth at Albert Park and it will be there the whole week to provide information to people about the type of services we have to offer in looking after the needs of our children,” said Mr Sami.
“The Hibiscus event is seen as an opportunity to bring about heightened awareness and publicity on child protection. The festival is the most publicised event; drawing people from as far as the highlands of Fiji and the outer islands; through live television coverage on Fiji One; and exposure across the Pacific Island nations through the Sky Pacific network.
“Apart from the child welfare activities, the ministry will also be portraying information on the empowerment programs of Ministry of Social Welfare and Women, particularly we are looking at the income generating programs, Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community and Gender Mainstreaming,” he said.
Mr Sami said the ministry encouraged parents to bring their children to the various competitions that would be organized during Hibiscus week, some of which include a rap competition that will be organized today where children can display their talents.
“We will also have our welfare officers based at the booth throughout the whole week and they will be able to answer questions from the public about matters pertaining to child protection. For example whom you can contact if you feel and see that a child is being abused. What can you do as a mother, aunt, uncle, father, grandfather, teacher, lawyer, village headman,” Mr Sami added.
After the Hibiscus event this year, the ministry will be working towards publicizing another campaign that is aimed at bringing about awareness and stopping child abuse! The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (PCAN) - Blue Ribbon Campaign, which is held every year in November will be celebrated country wide.
These initiatives by the ministry have been continuously supported by UNICEF through a multi-year work plan that is aimed at addressing the issues around the protection of children.
UNICEF’s representative Isiye Ndombi said he was encouraged and impressed by the way the ministry and the community had embraced, with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, the theme of this year’s festival.
“We are all here for one reason – the protection of the children of Fiji. It has been amazing to see the variety of individuals, agencies and organizations – come forth this week and culminate as a group of driven people wanting to make changes for children,” Mdombi said.
“Children in Fiji are abused and neglected every day and this comes at a high cost, to the child, but also to the country. Direct costs associated with the immediate needs of children who are abused or neglected (health, child welfare and justice); and indirect costs associated with the long-term and/or secondary effects of child abuse and neglect (health, education and criminal).
“While the cost of child abuse is often measured in terms of the psychological costs to the individual, or the social costs to society, it is also possible to make a financial measure of the costs of child abuse.
“Some of our studies show that the cost to fix the problems retrospectively far outweighs the costs of investing in child abuse prevention. This means that, in addition to the arguments we make on the grounds of morality and human rights, investing in child protection also makes sound economic sense.
“This year’s theme is about recognizing that our children are our future.
“This week I have seen the people of Fiji, led by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, become more aware of the issues and acknowledge that they exist. “The next step is for us to all work together to take action. Hibiscus Festival brings with it a spirit and a time for us to come together to take positive and real steps toward creating a safer, more nurturing and caring environment for children, the children of Fiji.”
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