African governments have been urged to ensure peaceful environment to facilitate the growth and development of children. The SOS Children’s Villages Ghana in a statement said children in Africa bore the brunt of the instability that has engulfed many African states. Below is the full statement issued by the organisation: Theme: “Africa Fit for Children: Call for Accelerated Action towards their Survival” Every year on the 16th day of June, Africa marks the International Day of the African Child. The day is commemorated every year since 1991 to honour the memory of the children and those who were killed in Soweto, South Africa when thousands of black school children took to the streets in 1976, in a march more than half a mile long, to protest against the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language. Considering the theme for this year’s celebration issued by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, “Africa fit for Children: Call for Accelerated Action towards their Survival” SOS Children’s Villages Ghana wish to send our message to the public that; we believe peace and security will secure the best future for the African Child. The future of our Continent is dependent on the kind of children that we raise. Conflicts, climate change and HIV/AIDS continue to be the biggest disasters that impact negatively on the children of Africa. Africa cannot be fit for children unless there is sufficient food to feed its entire people and agricultural production leads to economic growth. Millions of children in Africa go to bed hungry on a daily basis. No man or woman can be happy when they are not in the position to put food on the table for their children. As we celebrate the day, SOS Children’s Villages Ghana joins millions of voices to call for accelerated action to address the problems that impact negatively on child survival and development. Over the past decade children’s right to life has been compromised mainly due to the AIDS scourge and road carnage. At SOS Children’s Villages we are already committed to preparing and equipping orphaned, abandoned and destitute children for an independent future. Each child receives a stable home, education, health and adequate training according to his or her needs, so that when the time comes to leave the walls of SOS, they are able to stand on their feet and achieve the goals of self-reliance, financial independence and social integration. Our Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) also provides adequate support in communities where our villages are situated and also other communities qualified to benefit from various forms of support to improve their livelihood. We believe that there is the need to educate children on their right to life, their survival and development; advocate for the making of laws and establishment of government structures that ensure child survival, development and protection. There is also the need to increase awareness on the need for wider coverage of children in the realization of their survival, development and protection; foster alliances and collaboration which promote investment in the welfare of the current and future children; and strengthen and empower communities on issues of child survival, development and protection through public education. We are working towards implementing programmes aimed at ending violence against children, including neglect, abuse, sexual exploitation, child labour and trafficking as well as support activities such as lifelines and safe havens to rehabilitate and reintegrate child victims of abuse, sexual exploitation, rape and trafficking. We wish to reiterate our commitment to promoting the right to participation of all children (particularly of those who are marginalized, children from poor families, children who are orphaned and vulnerable) based on their evolving capacities through establishing appropriate consultative forums including child rights clubs, and associations. While the problems facing African children may seem insurmountable, continuous support for greater attention to their needs could improve their condition. Together we must work to stop the abuse of children in all forms, because the protection of children should be a national concern to provide significant impact on the future of our children on the continent. By joining the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and other International Organisations and Local NGOs in the celebration of the Day of the African Child, we hope that collectively we become one voice in propagating the right of children and to accelerate action for their survival in Africa. Credit: SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES - GHANA