Minister of Women and Social Action Iolanda Cintura presides over meeting to mobilize resources to fight violence against children
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 24 May 2011 – In a meeting to mobilize resources to fight violence against children that took place at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center yesterday evening, Minister of Women and Social Action Ms. Iolanda Cintura spoke about the problem of trafficking in children and the measures needed to overcome it. The Minister urged the people in attendance to leave the meeting with a renewed personal conviction in their fight against violence against children and to help make Mozambique a better country for children to live, a country where there would be room for their safety and development. The Minister said that more resources were required – technical, human and financial – to establish a coordinated and effective platform for action against violence and abuse.
In his speech, UNICEF representative Jesper Morch emphasized the importance of prevention of violence and abuse through a wide range of means, including change of social norms, zero tolerance of abuse in schools, expansion of support services, increased forensic capacity, training of social workers, creation of community groups, constant communication about the issue, as well as the strengthening of a National Children’s Council. For more information, please contact: Arild Drivdal, UNICEF Mozambique, tel. (+258) 21 481 100; email: maputo@unicef.org Gabriel Pereira, UNICEF Mozambique, tel. (+258) 21 481 100; email: maputo@unicef.org
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