Staff Writer
SWEDEN has injected a total US$5,8 million funding support towards child protection programs in Zimbabwe in a development which will further bolster the promotion of issues affecting children in the country.
The support channelled through UNICEF Zimbabwe comes amid realisations that the Southern Africa nation has made significant progress on several child protection issues especially through the recent adoption of legislation criminalizing child marriage, progress in the level of birth registration and the roll-out of a child friendly justice system.
Globally, children still continue to face numerous challenges like violence, exploitation, physical and sexual abuse more oftenly taking place in the same places they must be protected like homes and schools.
Speaking soon after handing over the donation, Sweden envoy in Zimbabwe, Her Excellency, Asa Pehrson said children are at the core of her country’s operations.
“Sweden believes that an efficient protection is essential to the children’s wellbeing because, as vulnerable people, they are more exposed to issues of mistreatment, exploitation, discrimination and violence,” she said.
The funding will be used primarily in ten districts: Binga, Chiredzi, Bulilima, Buhera, Zvishavane, Mbire, Epworth, Beitbridge, Mutasa and Bulawayo.
The districts have been selected based on the following key deprivation factors: urban, rural, and peri-urban locations; poorest and vulnerable districts; districts prone to climate shocks; and remote districts to address the leave no one behind dimension.
The Swedish funding is part of the Child Protection Fund III, a multi-donor fund mechanism which is open to all partners interested in supporting the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe to provide a safe and secure protective environment for children to grow up in.
“Government of Zimbabwe is committed to addressing all forms of violence against children to ensure that every child grows in a safe, secure and protective environment. Our aim is to create a Zimbabwe fit for children through strategic partnerships and to expand child protection financing through the Child Protection Fund.
“Government expresses its gratitude to the people of Sweden for the continued financial support towards the protection of vulnerable persons in Zimbabwe over the years.
“The support rendered today will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children, particularly those who are marginalized and vulnerable,” said Mr Simon Masanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Through its 5.8 million USD funding to UNICEF, Sweden will support the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe in five programme areas that are critical to protect children against violence, abuse and exploitation:
(1) access to response services for the most vulnerable children through the National Case Management System;
(2) prevention of Violence Against Children and Gender Based Violence through interventions that address harmful practices, social and gender norms and behavioural drivers of violence;
(3) access to justice for children;
(4) access to birth registration services; and
(5) policy, legal and regulatory framework improvements.
The partnership between Sweden and UNICEF coincides with the launch by UNICEF of a communication campaign on child protection focusing particularly on birth registration, children with disabilities, community childcare workers and child friendly justice.
