Orphanages Need Auditing and Review to Ensure There Is No Form of Abuse Against Children
Established orphanages around the country are doing a great job.
Their noble work has rescued children from a life of pain, misery and even death.
Investigation underway
But one of them is being accused of abusing orphans. It has become so serious that a complaint has been lodged with the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Disrimination Commission.
It is alleged that caretakers have been physically and verbally abusing the orphans. Director Ashwin Raj said they were investigating allegations of child abuse levelled against a well-known orphanage
“The complainant alleged that children living in this particular home were subjected to verbal and physical abuse and neglect. The complainant has also requested the commission to investigate the manner in which the present management is running the home, in particular, the use of food rations and other assistance given to the home by donors and Government,” he said.
The Police and stakeholders have been notified and investigations have started.
Mr Raj has called on all orphanages in the country to act in the best interest of the child and ensure safety, security and wellbeing of all children living under their care.
It is hoped that the allegations are not true. If they are then they should be condemned and the perpetrators must be held to account. It is also hoped that a system is already in place to do a periodic review of the activities of orphanages.
Importance of orphanages
The purpose of placing children in orphanages is to give them hope in life. Some come from families whose parents have drifted apart and divorced or have died.
Then there are others whose single mothers have given them up to the orphanages because they do not have the means nor the experience to raise them.
Over the years these children have grown up, gone to school and have pursued a life of their own. They get an education, a job, married and have children of their own.
They now live a stable and happy family life.
That’s the success story of these orphanages – which have become a beacon of hope for many children coming from dysfunctional families.
The children are innocent and vulnerable when they first enter homes. They are usually in good and trusted hands under care providers who are compassionate and have committed their lives to humanitarian service like the nuns. We hope that the investigations will identify and pluck out the bad apples if they exist.
It will allow the orphanage in question to continue its work of charity.