Parkop demands stronger action for child protection

Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Children and Youth and NCD Governor Powes Parkop, has called for stronger government leadership in protecting Papua New Guinea's children and youth.

He made recommendation for Parliament to ensure child welfare remain top national priority. The concerns were raised during the Committee's public inquiry held earlier this week.

The inquiry revealed that the National Office of Child and Family Services [NOCFS] has been largely non-functional for ten years, leaving children nationwide vulnerable to abuse, exploitation.

The inquiry revealed that Government failed to address key factors that improve the quality of children's lives.

Governor Parkop Non-Government Organizations [NGOs] like Child Fund PNG are providing critical services but the primary responsibility for safeguarding children rests with the government.

"The government must be at the frontline providing the basic services for our children and public at large. NGOs are there to complement, not replace, the role of the state," he stated.

Meanwhile, Child Fund PNG highlighted the service gap, noting its 1-Tok Kaunselim Helpim Lain [7150 8000], the country’s only 24-hour, toll-free national service for survivors of gender-based violence and child abuse, has received over 87,000 calls since 2015.

However, this essential service operates primarily through donor support, mainly from the Government of New Zealand.

Parkop commended ChildFund's efforts reiterated that the NOCFS must take full responsibility for leading and coordinating child protection nationwide.

The Committee will ensure that all the important indicators to ensure the Children of PNG are given a better foundation for future are addressed by all agencies of Governments.