ZANZIBAR: THE Registrar of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zanzibar, Ahmed Khamis Khalid, has stressed the crucial role of the community, in collaboration with the police force, in protecting children from involvement in criminal activities and safeguarding them from becoming victims of such acts.
He made the remarks at Ziwani Police College in Zanzibar while inaugurating the third phase of the “Our Safety First” training programme for police officers and community security groups.
“There is still a major challenge in our society where cases of abuse go unreported and are instead resolved within families,” he said, urging the police to continue educating the public on the importance of reporting such cases so that appropriate action can be taken.
On his part, Zanzibar’s Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of Community Policing, Jonas Mahanga, noted that the “Our Safety First” initiative in schools has been highly successful in uncovering previously unreported cases of abuse.
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Additionally, it has facilitated the return of 299 truant children to school.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator for Alternative Child Care at SOS, Mr Ali Yussuf Khamis, praised the police force for its significant role in protecting children from criminal activities.
He assured continued cooperation with law enforcement agencies to enhance child protection. The five-day “Our Safety First” training programme, which includes 30 police officers from three districts in Unguja and two communitybased security groups, is sponsored by SOS.
