By Linda Kwanjana
As a way of promoting child protection in the country, the ministry of homeland security in collaboration with UNICEF has plans to develop a concept aimed at imparting knowledge on child friendly policing through the provision training to security officers.
This has come out in a meeting between UNICEF country representative Shadrack Omol and minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma held on Friday at capital hill in Lilongwe.
Ng’oma believes that the Initiative will be of great importance as far as child rights and protection is concerned.
Ng’oma expressed optimism that training to the security officers will provide an opportunity to achieve a child friendly environment.
The minister further noted with concern that there are many street kids in the country who sometimes misbehave due to the way they are being treated, hence the need to find a better way to address the challenge.
“We need to have a concept that focuses on special training to security officers like the police, immigration, prison and refugees department.The officers should be trained on how to handle children because we need to be friendly to these children,” Ng’oma explained.
On his part, UNICEF country representative Shadrack Omol pledged for the continued support towards different aspects related to children like nutrition, health and education among others.
Omol said child friendly policing is paramount in promoting the well-being of children.
“We have got many areas of support in the areas of health, education, nutrition as well as social welfare and police in particular we have been providing support in community police units by working with police officers in various police units just to make them child friendly,” He said.
UNICEF integrates protection in health and early childhood development programmes to ensure young children grow up in caring, nurturing and protective environments.
