World Vision launches ‘It takes every Rwandan’ child protection campaign in Eastern province
Nyagatare, 14th April 2021, World Vision Rwanda launched its child protection campaign, dubbed ‘It takes every Rwandan’ (ITER) in Nyagatare district in the Eastern Province in an effort to collaborate with the region’s stakeholders to end all forms of violence against children.
The ITER campaign, which is intended to harness efforts to increase protection of children against child labour and child sexual abuse, has so far reached over 190,000 people, including parents, children and local leaders, with training on child protection.
World Vision Rwanda launched the campaign in 2018 in close collaboration and partnership with government institutions such as the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), National Child Development Agency (NCDA), Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), MINALOC among others.
Speaking to the stakeholders at the provincial launch of the ITER campaign, World Vision Rwanda’s National Director, Mr. Sean Kerrigan said that the campaign provides a platform for people to be aware of children’s rights and the violations that occur against them. “We hope to maintain an open dialogue about ways we can all speak up and take part in ending violence against children” he said.
“Child wellbeing and child protection is fundamental in all our interventions and we work to ensure all children experience life in its fullness” said Sean.
Part of the activities under the ITER campaign involve working with children in schools and in the communities through religious leaders and local child protection structures such as Inshuti z’umuryango to educate communities about children’s rights and abuse, how to prevent child violence as well as how to report incidents when they occur and to ensure the referral mechanisms are simplified and understood by the children, parents and service providers.
The governor of Eastern province, Mr. Emmanuel Gasana who presided over the event appreciated World Vision Rwanda for their efforts in advocating for children as well as other key players in child protection from the region who were part of the event which included a consultative session on ways to establish digital platforms in reporting accurate and timely information on sexual and gender-based violence.
