The African Star

An on-line publication for the certificate  and degree  in journalism distance education program

Home

Day of the African Child

By Zuhur Yassin Ibrahim--Somaliland 

 

It was a wonderful event to see young children as small as 4 yrs walking down the streets holding message in their hands “fight Poverty-Invest in Children” one of them read. About hundred+ children along with officials from organization and the public took to the streets marching to commemorate “The Day of the African Child”

On the 16^th June of every year the Day of the African Child is commemorated all over the world. This is a special day to talk about the problems and issues facing the children of Africa. Since 16 June 1991, this day has been commemorated honoring the victims of the 1976 march in Soweto, South Africa. It was during this day that hundreds of young boys and girls where shot after over thousands of children took to the streets to protest against the education inequality and the right to be taught in their own language. This year’s theme was to stop trafficking.

UNICEF and Somaliland Human Rights organized the event. Many other participated in the march Government, World Vision, etc. There were speeches from the Minister of Justice UNICEF Child protection officer Essa and others. Mr. said “the Government is the prime responsibility to solve the problems facing the children and asked the organization working for children to collaborate with them”. With diarrhea outbreak in some places in the capital Essa who was a representative from UNICEF talked to the children who filled the meeting hall about cleanliness and benefits of washing hands before eating.

Songs and a drama were held all morning keeping the children engaged and interested. Government and UNICEF promised to continue working for the good of the children of Somaliland and pointed out there needs to be a multi lateral response and everyone should play their part.