‘Ministry reviewing child protection policy’

THE Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts is reviewing its Child Protection Policy, says Head of National Education Service Delivery Timoci Bure.

He made the statement while presenting submissions to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

He said the ministry already had in place laws and legislation to protect children against abuse.

“Our child protection policy at the ministry is the framework which covers the managing of student behaviour in schools,” Mr Bure said.

“The policy has zero tolerance on child abuse.

“It states that all suspicious and allegations of child abuse, child labour, trafficking, neglect and exploitation must be reported completely to the child protection officer in the school.”

Mr Bure also said the policy stated that the allegations be solely investigated and all findings to be directed to the school head.

He said school heads should then inform the school management and then the child protection officer at the ministry within two to three days of the incident.

Mr Bure further said the ministry supported the optional protocol as it protected the children from this form of abuse, from the physical and mental harm associated with the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.