“Resist the imposition of external values under the pretence of development aid, international agreements, or donor partnerships that conflict with national laws and cultural integrity,” they say.
The delegates further call upon members of national assemblies to “undertake legislative reviews and reforms to ensure all national laws align with constitutional protections for the family, life, and parental rights.”
“We affirm that the family is not a flexible or negotiable construct, but a biologically and socially rooted institution essential to Africa’s survival, peace, and development,” they state in their communiqué following the May 12-16 PACFV, which the Africa Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF) organized under the theme: “Promoting and Protecting Family Values in Challenging Times.”
The PACFV delegates, drawn from national governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, religious bodies, and allied international partners, raise concern over “proliferation of harmful content targeting African youth via digital platforms.”
This harmful content, including “social media algorithms, and entertainment programming,” the delegates warn, is contributing to the erosion of “traditional values and parental authority.”
In their communiqué, the delegates recognize the family as the cornerstone of African society and its critical role in child development and pledge to protect children from “digital exploitation and ideological indoctrination, including influences found in school curricula, healthcare systems, and media content.”
The PACFV delegates decry the widespread advocacy for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools, which they say is “often without the informed consent of parents or alignment with national educational standards.”
To address the concern, they commit to continue advancing “legal protections for parental rights and responsibilities to protect the primary authority of parents over their children’s upbringing, particularly in moral, religious, and educational domains.”
“We adopt this Declaration as a binding expression of intent and commit to translating its contents into enforceable laws, public policies, institutional programs, and regional partnerships,” the PACFV delegates say in their May 16 communiqué.
Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.
