PPAG CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICA CHILD

Every child deserves to enjoy their childhood. The International Day of the African Child, is therefore observed on June 16th each year, as a powerful reminder of the critical importance of unlocking the full potential of African children, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, gender or race. This year’s celebration is themed ‘THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT’ and seeks to sensitize the public and policy makers on the risks and opportunities of the digital environment. The Day of the African Child has since become the key tool used by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) to trumpet best practices and ideals that promote the rights of African children and their welfare issues especially in the area of reproductive health.

A study conducted by Ghana’s Department of Children in 2018 revealed that out of the total number of 4,549 children interviewed, 9 out of 10 children have access to the internet with ages as low as 4 years and the highest being 15 years. This raises numerous concerns with this digital age, including cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to very dangerous materials.

PPAG, through different project implementors urged children to patronize the Association’s safe spaces for lessons on protection from harm and to ensure their safety online. The Association reiterated the purposeful use of its safe spaces by young people, whilst being enlightened on the dangers they face on the internet.

The celebration of the AU Day of the African Child (DAC) was instituted in 1991 and is to be celebrated on the 16th June of each year in memory of the children who died as a result of a students’ uprising in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 against an apartheid regime.