BY OWETHU DLAMINI
MBABANE– Keeping the children of Eswatini Safe.
World Vision Eswatini (WVE) has officially handed over a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and audio system to the Siteki Children’s Court today, to assist in the collection of evidence from children who have been sexually or otherwise violated.
According to world vision, the E456 000 worth equipment will ensure that children are able to give evidence in the child-friendly part of the court, without having to endure the traumatic experience of facing perpetrators.
Speaking during the handover at the Children’s Court, WVE National Director Tinah Mukunda, said the organisation was concerned about the rising cases of violence against children reported daily in the country.
“So while we do acknowledge that we have reporting and referral structures in place, we also recognise that such facilities require strengthening from time to time, so that they are not only child-friendly but offer quality services,” she said.
Mukunda said the organisation’s role is to emphasise more on prevention of violence against children, which is the reason the organisation focuses its work with communities.
“We work as a community-empowering organisation, building structures that are able to provide awareness to prevent violation of children, but we are also aware that this awareness brings in the knowledge that such cases have to be reported and justice offered to the survivors,” she said.
The National Director further pointed that World Vision Eswatini is currently running a campaign, as part of World Vision International’s Global Campaign, to end all forms of violence against children.
Mukanda explained that the Campaign is dubbed ‘It Takes Eswatini to End Sexual Violence Against Children’.
She elaborated that children previously pointed to this as their biggest concern when it comes to violence against them.
“The Campaign seeks to raise awareness and strengthen reporting and legal systems in the country, to ensure successful prosecution of cases of sexual violence against children,” she said.
According to a statement, the already installed electronic equipment will allow the electronic collection of all necessary evidence from violated children in a child-friendly space and, hopefully, ensure the quick apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators of violence against children.
The statement reads: “The installation started in August 2021 and has been an on-going project, with all equipment now fully installed, hence the handing over to the government today,”
World Vision Eswatini remains committed to working with emaSwati to improve the lives of the country’s most vulnerable children and their families and deliver on its commitment to them.
