What have we got to show our children?

Some 31 years ago in Soweto, South Africa, thousands of black students walked out of their schools to Orlando Stadium in a rally to protest against the poor quality of education they received and demand their right to be taught in their own language. The protest was intended to be peaceful but ended in one can only call a massacre resulting in over 500 children killed and thousands more wounded in the violence that ensued where police used weapons and tear gas against students.

That fateful day became a day where Africa and the rest of the world truly saw the true face of segregation, inequality and suppression. The riots in Soweto became the cause of all Africans and other supporters from the rest of the world to end disparity and fight for equality among men, women and children. Fatally wounded children, policemen shooting at children, and the carnage have been permanently carved in our minds and made us promise that never again would we allow such atrocities in Africa. To honor the memory of those killed and the courage of all those who marched on June 16 would be marked as the Day of the African Child since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity.

It is fitting, as we celebrate the Day of the African Child, to address the situation of the African child and ponder whether things have really changed for the African child. Each year or every few months we hear about staggering voids in Africa in regards to meeting the needs of African children. We see children stuck in between fighting groups, becoming child soldiers, slaves, dying of malnutrition, affected by diseases, maimed by landmines and made orphans by HIV/AIDS. One cannot in all honesty say that Africa has delivered on its promise to end sufferings of its children. Yes, granted that poverty is a big factor in not addressing the plights of our children, it should not be lost on us that some of the hardships that children face can be easily averted. The state of children in conflict is one area that is clear-cut we should punish those who use children as child soldiers.

Those who use children as soldiers or slaves do so by with the knowledge that children as easily exploitable as they can either be easily coerced or forced into a life of subjugation. Sure laws are passed, agreements protecting children are ratified but nothing seems to be translated on the ground. Even when there is peace, little is done to make sure that children’s rights are protected and courts often do not put the issues of children in the front and center.

Governments or those in power are not the only ones that need to be criticized; we, too as a society need to ask ourselves what we have done to alleviate the plight of Africa’s children. And ask ourselves what the true value of a child’s life is? In these cases, it really does take a village to raise a child. Are we ready to get involved and bring change? Or can we continue passing on the task to others?

Laws alone cannot guarantee success. It is up to everyone within the community to act to respond to the situation. We should pre-empt this tragedy before it becomes permanently entwined with Africa’s state of affairs. We should stop the cycle of indifference- outrage-activism and indifference again. We cannot continue to play this role over and over again.We need to acknowledge the fact that it is not working!!!

June 15, 2007