There are more than 200 cases of child abuse reported every month according to Lae’s Senior Child and Social Welfare Officer.
Emily Boski said, with the new Lukautim Pikinini Act, everyone should be educated on Children’s Rights and the penalties served to the offenders of child abuse.
The Welfare Officer was speaking today at an awareness session for community leaders of a Local Level Government (LLG) in Lae.
Ms Boski told EMTV News that she deals with 50 new cases of child abuse each week.
Few of these cases are child labour, emotional and sexual abuse.
Boski said these cases of child abuse arise from negligence and lack of support from parents.
These came after the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee, headed by the Chief Metropolitan Superintendent in Lae, saw the need to raise awareness in communities concerning Child Protection.
The Family Sexual and Violence Action Committee in Morobe was formed 10 years ago without an office.
It was revived in 2014 with its main objective to work closely with the survivors of family and sexual violence before justice is served.
According to the Senior Child Welfare Officer in Lae said, child abuse is happening everyday and everywhere in the country.
Under the new Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, every child including children with special needs, need to be protected with quality love and respect from adults.
All parents and guardians should spend more time with their children, to prevent child abuse such as child labour, physical and sexual abuse from happening.
