Bimbilla (N/R), April 1, GNA - A child protection network was on Wednesday formed in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District, aimed at promoting child rights and preventing abuse, and the exploitation of girls in school.

Some of the institutions forming the network include; the Department of Social Welfare, CHRAJ, National Commission for Civic Education, Ministries of Education and Health, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DVVSU), Department of Women and Children and some community groups. The network, which was jointly formed by Songtaba and Action Aid Ghana and sponsored by the Big Lottery Fund of UK, has the responsibility of promoting community-wide approaches to problems of child abuse and violence against girls in school.

Madam Dorothy Konadu, ActionAid Ghana Education Policy Advisor, indicated that some parents were still holding girls in Nanumba area for exchange marriages, farm hands, domestic and sales assistants, as well as physical and sexual abuses, adding that such acts deter girls from school. She said if government could achieve the education for all goal and the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, then such issues must be seriously address to pave way for their achievements. Madam Konadu said the child protection network would ensure communities responsibilities and accountability to keeping children from abuse, neglect and deprivation so that children could enjoy their right to education. She observed that with a basic education, women were better positioned to effectively engage in economic activities and political processes, and raise good and healthier homes.

Mr. Issah Salifu, Board Chairman of Songtaba said Songtaba as the community partner to the Stop Violence Against Girls in School (SVAGS) had facilitated the formation of girls clubs, community advocacy teams, peer parent educators and mentors in 13 communities of the project. He said children particularly the girl-child needs special care and protection, urging that every individual, traditional authority and the government must collaborate to protect children.