Ouagadougou: The Zak La Yilguemdé Association celebrated, Friday, delayed, the day dedicated to the African child, in Gogo (Zoundwéogo province), through several awareness-raising activities on respect for rights of the child in a context of security and humanitarian crisis, the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of schoolchildren and the consequences of child labor.
The 34th Day of the African Child (JEA) was celebrated in the Zoundwéogo province. The Zak La Yilguemdé association is the initiator of this commemorative ceremony of the massacre of children in Soweto in 1976, as part of the implementation of the ‘At school with complete peace of mind’ program.
The event took place in Gogo (Zondwéogo province) one day before the date of June 16 scheduled each year for the international commemoration of the JEA.
‘We have decided to celebrate the 34th Day of the African Child today, June 15, instead of June 16 due to the celebration of the Muslim festival of Tabaski throughout the national territory,’ indicat
ed the executive secretary of AZLY , Aimée Yameogo.
‘Problem of protecting the rights of the family and the child in a context of security and humanitarian crises’ is the theme of the celebration of JEA 2024 at the national and provincial level.
In the speech of the children’s representative, Compaoré Reine Gaelle, she noted that the theme is of capital importance given the vulnerability of children, exposed to violations of their basic rights in this context of security and food crisis. For her, reflections on the issue could therefore lead to actions leading to a paradigm shift and better protection of children’s rights. She also urged the State and its social partners ‘to create suitable conditions protecting the rights of children and ensuring school continuity for all of them’.
During the ceremony, groups of students presented poems and sketches and performed slam performances around subjects related to the theme. One way to increase awareness among their comrades and the audience on the issues raised
, noted the student of the CM2 class at the Boura school, in the commune of Guiba, Zoungrana Mamounata, who presented a poem on the disadvantages of excision on the health and schooling of girls.
Among the guests at the provincial commemorative ceremony of the 34th JEA are administrative, customary and religious authorities and parents of students. The regional director of the national police of the Center-South, divisional commissioner Minata Traoré, was among these distinguished personalities. She took part in the double role of godmother of the ceremony and role model for the students, in this case the girls.
A very appreciable mark of consideration, confided the regional director of the national police of the Center-South who called on the students, in her message, ‘to remain diligent and committed on the path to the acquisition of knowledge, of interpersonal skills and know-how.
She particularly invited girls to apply themselves to a job well done and to adopt good behavior in order to avoid being vic
tims of dropping out or dropping out of school. ‘In my message, I also urged girls not to be apprehensive about their chosen profession and to embrace the profession of arms which is not only the prerogative of men,’ declared divisional commissioner Minata Traoré . Along these lines, police lieutenant Roseline Youl/Ouédraogo also encouraged the girls to behave in an exemplary manner and to make good choices in ‘noble’ professions such as the police to best serve the country.
Satisfied with the choice of his municipality for the celebration of the 34th JEA at the provincial level, the president of the special Gogo delegation, Issa Tiendrébéogo, praised AZLY and its Dutch partner Kinderpostzegels for its financial and technical support for the successful holding of the event.
‘I am very satisfied with the celebration of the 34th JEA. The children were dynamic and they passed very important messages to the audience,’ also confided, at the end of the ceremony, the executive secretary of AZLY, Aimée Yaméogo.
Du
ring the event, 20 winners and 40 other participants took part in a competition of artistic and literary productions around the themes of children’s rights in a context of security and humanitarian crisis, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of schools and the consequences of child labor were rewarded with prizes in cash and in kind.
Source: Burkina Information Agency